Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Elk Springs, Colorado, July 29, 1993
On July 29, 1993 at about 1:30 am local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5035K, was destroyed in an accident near Elk Springs, Colorado. 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 PERFORMANCE OF A STALL/SPIN AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR RECOVERY AND LEVEL OFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1993 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Elk Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5035K · registry record · serial 469-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TURNING MANEUVER PROGRESSED TO INVERTED FLIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RIGHT SPIN ABOUT 1,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. AT ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN, THE SPIN TURNS BEGAN TO DECREASE. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE COMMERCIAL PILOTS. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHICH WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. THE OWNER, WHO WAS IN THE REAR SEAT, HELD AN ACROBATIC ENDORSEMENT.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 720 hours in all; 392 in this make and model; 520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,377 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.