Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Mena, Arkansas, March 1, 1982
On March 1, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N50402, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mena, Arkansas (Intermountain Regional airport). 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
- March 1, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mena, Arkansas · Intermountain Regional · 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
- N50402 · no longer on the register · serial 296-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING TO MAINTAIN PROFICIENCY. HE HAD NOT FLOWN THIS MAKE AND MODEL WITHIN THE LAST 90 DAYS, BUT HE HAD FLOWN ANOTHER TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT ON 12/4/81.WHILE LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN WHILE CORRECTING FOR A CROSSWIND, BUT THEN BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE HAD A LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, TWO GUSTS OF WIND WERE ENCOUNTERED WHICH RAISED THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED LEFT AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, A GEAR BOLT FAILED, AND THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE WIND WAS GUSTING UP TO ABOUT 14 KNOTS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 368 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 318 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 977 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M39 Mena AR
- Destination: M39 Mena AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N50402 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.