Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Franklin, Wisconsin, February 21, 1982
On February 21, 1982 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N1218E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Wisconsin (Rainbow airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- February 21, 1982 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Wisconsin · Rainbow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N1218E · registry record · serial 32477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A 1.8 HOUR FLIGHT, THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT WITH 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DRAINED THE SUMPS AS PART OF HIS PREFLIGHT. THE PRETAKEOFF CHECKS AND TAKEOFF ROLL WERE NORMAL. AT ABOUT 75 TO 100 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD RATHER THAN ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. HE BANKED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE ROAD, THEN LEVELED THE WINGS BEFORE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED HARD, STRUCK A ROAD SIGN ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, AND CAME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SIX GALLONS OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS. APPROXIMATELY 150 GALLONS OF WATER WAS PUMPED OUT OF THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR'S FUEL TANK.
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: 400 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y78 Franklin WI at 12:45 pm
- Destination: Y78 Franklin WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,140 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.