Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Centerpoint, Indiana, June 9, 1982
On June 9, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N7543F, was destroyed in an accident near Centerpoint, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- June 9, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Centerpoint, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7543F · no longer on the register · serial 282-70
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-RATED OWNER/PILOT CRASHED AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE SOD STRIP. THE IMPACT POINT WAS ABOUT 400 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND 200 FT LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS STARTED FROM A CROWN ON THE RUNWAY THAT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE APPROACH END. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD TAKEN OFF AND CLIMBED TO 100 FT AGL BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE 1000 FT STRIP. AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 100 FT, THE PLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT BANK, THEN NOSE DIVE TO THE GROUND.
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
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 73 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 883 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Centerpoint IN
- Destination: Centerpoint IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 171°F (77°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.