Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Philip, South Dakota, June 6, 1982
On June 6, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N86993, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philip, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 6, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Philip, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N86993 · registry record · serial 5574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TO AN OPEN FIELD WHERE HE LANDED TO WORK ON A TRUCK. WHILE HE WAS WORKING ON THE TRUCK, THE WIND INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT HE WAS AFRAID TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. WHEN HE GOT IN THE PLANE, THE WIND PREVENTED HIM FROM TURNING AND TAXIING TO A PROPER TAKEOFF POSITION. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT ROAD, GOING FROM EAST TO WEST. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 45 KTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE WIND CAUGHT THE PLANE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IT GROUND LOOPED. THE LEFT GEAR FAILED AND THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME AND FABRIC.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,840 hours in all; 1,020 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 2,840 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,020 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Philip SD at 10:00 am
- Destination: Philip SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 45 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 133°F (56°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from RAP, 59 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.
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.