Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Belen, New Mexico, October 26, 1990
On October 26, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5058J, was destroyed in an accident near Belen, New Mexico. 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 PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT'S ALTITUDE (GROUND CLEARANCE) ABOVE THE DESERT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5058J · no longer on the register · serial 551-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE INFO, THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PRACTICE AEROBATICS. DURING THE FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED ON RELATIVELY FLAT, DESERT TERRAIN, JUST TO THE EAST OF A LARGE GULLY. THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HEADING OF 087 DEG. PIECES OF THE LANDING GEAR WERE FOUND IN THE INITIAL IMPACT DEPRESSION, WHICH WAS 6 INCHES DEEP. ABOUT 15 FT SOUTH OF THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT WAS A SCAR THAT CONTAINED THE RIGHT WINGTIP CAP. THE LEFT WINGTIP CAP WAS FOUND ABOUT 18 FT NORTHEAST OF THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST 71 FT EAST OF THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT ON A SLIGHT RISE IN THE TERRAIN. ONE PROP BLADE WAS DISTORED WITH AN 'S' CURVE, THE OTHER BLADE WAS PARTIALLY MELTED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.
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: 591 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 492 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no 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 AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: E98 Los Lunas NM at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ABQ, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.