Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Boerne, Texas, October 27, 2013
On October 27, 2013 at about 10:40 pm local time, a 1966 Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N11RC, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Boerne, Texas. It was a personal 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
A defective exhaust system that allowed carbon monoxide to enter the cabin and impair the pilot, rendering him unable to control the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2013 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Boerne, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A, built 1966 · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N11RC · no longer on the register · serial 4279
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to his home airport. A review of radar data showed the accident airplane in a straight-line descent from cruise flight at a rate of nearly 2,900 ft per minute. The descent resulted in a loss of 8,100 ft in less than 3 minutes until the airplane disappeared from radar in the vicinity of the accident site. Disassembly of the airplane's cabin heat shroud, which provided heated air to the cabin, revealed evidence of cracks and holes in the muffler wall and exhaust gas penetration into the interior of the shroud. According to the autopsy report, the pilot died as a result of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, with soot present in the upper airway and 37% carbon monoxide found in his blood postmortem. Based on the lack of soot in the lower airway and the elevated carbon monoxide levels, the majority of the carbon monoxide in the pilot's blood was likely from inhalation during the flight at levels that would have impaired his ability to safely fly the airplane. Although cetirizine, also known as Zyrtec® (used to temporarily relieve allergy symptoms and could cause drowsiness), was also detected in the pilot's urine and blood, the detected level indicated that impairment from the drug was unlikely.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Carbon monoxide › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,812 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F1 (piston); 1,979 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FTT Fulton MO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 8T8 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from KSAT, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.