Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Saluda, Virginia, September 15, 1983
On September 15, 1983 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5070N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saluda, Virginia (Hummel Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- September 15, 1983 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Saluda, Virginia · Hummel Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5070N · registry record · serial 614-80
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED OFF THE RWY AND CARTWHEELED INTO THE TIEDOWN AREA AFTER THE PLT LOST CONTROL DURING LANDING. THE PLT SAID THE WIND SHIFTED WHILE HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH. HE COMPENSATED WITH POWER AND RUDDER BUT DOES NOT RECALL HIS AIRSPEED. THE ACFT SNAPPED TO THE LEFT AND CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN THE TIE-DOWN AREA. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFTS TAIL WAS ABNORMALLY LOW ON FINAL APPROACH. HE HEARD THE ACFTPOWER COME ON JUST BEFORE IT ROLLED TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 20 TO 30 FT AGL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1983; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WST Westerly RI at 2:45 pm
- Destination: W75
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PHF, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.