Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Berlin, Maryland, July 12, 1989
On July 12, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N57417, was destroyed in an accident near Berlin, Maryland. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE STALL OCCURRED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N57417 · no longer on the register · serial 373-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICKUP A BANNER, BUT MISSED IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. WITNESSES SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SECOND MISS, THE ACFT BEGAN CLIMBING AND TURNED LEFT WITH A BANK ANGLE THAT INCREASED TO 90 DEGREES. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 80 FT AGL, WHEN IT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from SBY, 20 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.