Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Bay St Louis, Mississippi, March 30, 2014
On March 30, 2014 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N11FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bay St Louis, Mississippi (Stennis Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A sudden fuel leak, which resulted in a postlanding fire; the origin of the leak could not be determined due to fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2014 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bay St Louis, Mississippi · Stennis Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB, built 1972 · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N11FS · no longer on the register · serial 17-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after the airplane lifted off after several touch-and-go landings, he suddenly smelled fuel and observed streaming fuel. The fuel appeared to come from the fuel system header tank area and streamed onto the cockpit floor between his feet. He landed the airplane straight ahead and taxied clear of the active runway. The airplane caught fire, and the pilot exited through the cockpit door. Within a minute, the airplane was engulfed in flames. Airport rescue personnel responded and extinguished the fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that almost all of the fuel lines going to or coming from the header tank were completely burned away. Two sections of fuel and vent lines remained attached to the header tank and were examined; no evidence of pre-existing fatigue or cracking was observed. According to the pilot, who was also the owner, no recent maintenance had been performed in the area of the header tank. It is likely that a sudden leak occurred at a line to or from the header tank; however, the fire destroyed all evidence of its origin.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,070 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 955 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 15, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2014; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1A (piston); 1,837 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HSA Bay St Louis MS at 7:15 pm
- Destination: HSA Bay St Louis MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,497 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from HSA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector’s Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Materials Lab Results - Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts – Decathlon Parts Manual | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Evidence Control Form | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum of Record - Loeding | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 1 – View of Aircraft, Response by Airport Firefighters (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 2 – Wreckage After Recovery to Hangar (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 3 – Fuel System – Header Tank | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 4 – Fuel System – Header Tank with T-connector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Photo 5 - Fuel System – Gascolator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.