Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Huntersville, North Carolina, July 27, 1986
On July 27, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N7689S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntersville, North Carolina (Bradford Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- July 27, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Huntersville, North Carolina · Bradford Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7689S · no longer on the register · serial 25976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO AND EMER PROC. HE WAS HIGH ON BASE AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT ALT, STRUCK A DITCH 200 FEET SHORT OF THE RWY WITH RT LDG GEAR. ACFT CAME TO A STOP 100 FEET SHORT OF RWY IN SECOND GRASS FILLED DITCH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 34,000 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 34,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1986; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,850 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from CLT, 13 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.