Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Atlanta, Kansas, September 19, 1999
On September 19, 1999 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5532K, was destroyed in an accident near Atlanta, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilots failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were the aerobatic maneuvers performed by the pilot and the low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1999 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5532K · no longer on the register · serial 389-78
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was destroyed when it impacted the terrain. Two witnesses to the accident stated that the aircraft was performing aerobatic maneuvers and then did a fly by. One witness stated that the aircraft then pulled up and performed a roll. The other witness stated that the aircraft pulled up and started a left turn. Both witnesses described seeing the aircraft descending '... out of control.' Both witnesses also stated that the engine sounded as if it was producing power prior to the accident. An on scene examination failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies with respect to the airplane. The pilot and passenger were not wearing parachutes during the flight.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 7,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1998; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from WLD, 21 miles away
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.