Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Harvel, Illinois, July 12, 1993
On July 12, 1993 at about 2:17 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N4201Y, was destroyed in an accident near Harvel, Illinois. 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1993 · about 2:17 pm local time
- Place
- Harvel, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N4201Y · no longer on the register · serial 294-77
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FILLED HER FUEL TANKS ON JULY 3, 1993 AND MADE A SHORT TRIP FROM DELAVAN, WISCONSIN TO KENOSHA, WISCONSIN ON THAT DAY. THE PILOT ASSUMED SHE HAD 33.5 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT WHEN SHE DEPARTED KENOSHA ON JULY 12, 1993. NEAR TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE PILOT NOTICED LOWER THAN EXPECTED FUEL GUAGE READINGS. SHE TRIED TO BE VECTORED TO TAYLORVILLE AIRPORT BUT THE AIRPLANE RAN OUT OF FUEL, AND THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT LINED UP ON A BEAN FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
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: 257 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,262 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEID-320-E1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENW Kenosha WI at 12:15 pm
- Destination: 3K6 St. Jacob IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from SPI, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N4201Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.