Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Carrollton, Georgia, March 23, 1982
On March 23, 1982 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N50468, was destroyed in an accident near Carrollton, Georgia (West Georgia Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1982 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Georgia · West Georgia Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N50468 · registry record · serial 514-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT COMPLETED A TOUCH & GO & WAS CLIMBING OUT WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL. HE TOLD THE STUDENT THAT HE WAS GOING TO SHOW HIM WHAT TO DO IF THE ENG QUIT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. AT 150-180 FT ABOVE THE RWY NEAR THE UPWIND NUMBERS THE INSTRUCTOR CUT THE POWER TO IDLE, INITIATED A TURN TO THE RIGHT TO OFFSET FROM THE RWY & THEN BEGAN A SLIPPING LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE RWY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND DOWNWIND. THE ACFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE AS IT APPROACHED A POSITIONPERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY. THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED FULL POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE RWY WINGS LEVEL.THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG FELT LIKE IT LOADED UP & DID NOT DEVELOP POWER IMMEDIATELY AS HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL INJECTION SERVO REVEALED EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL LEAKAGE ALTHOUGH THE UNIT OPERATED NORMALLY ON A TEST BENCH. INTERNAL LEAKAGE COULD CAUSE HESITATION OR LOADING UP UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,800 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 8,800 as pilot in command; 38 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 389 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CTJ Carrollton GA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: CTJ Carrollton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.