Bellanca 8GCBC and I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 accident near Katy, Texas, September 5, 1982
On September 5, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bellanca 8GCBC (N4167Y) and I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 (N1052K), were involved in the same accident near Katy, Texas (Harbican airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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
- September 5, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Katy, Texas · Harbican · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N4167Y · no longer on the register · serial 239-77
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2
- Registration
- N1052K · no longer on the register · serial 203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bellanca 8GCBC final · quoted from the NTSB record
N4167Y, A BELLANCA 8GCBC, WAS BEING USED AS A GLIDER TOWPLANE. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN THE PILOT ABORTED BECAUSE HE FELT HE HAD INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE FOR A NORMAL TOW. HE CONTINUED TO ROLL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE CENTER LINE OF A RELATIVELY NARROW TURF AIRSTRIP. THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER STRUCK THE RUDDER OF N4167Y, WHICH HAD SLOWED TO A STOP, AND THE GLIDER THEN SPUN TO THE LEFT PASSING THE TOWCRAFT AND RUNNING INTO THE PROPELLER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N1052Y AN I.C.A BRASOV GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN THE TOWPLANE ABORTED AND CONTINUED TO ROLL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE CENTER LINE OF A RELATIVELY NARROW TURF AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT OF N1052K DEPLOYED HIS SPOILERS AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER PAST THE PARKED TOW SHIP, BUT CAUGHT A WING TIP ON ITS RUDDER AND WAS SPUN INTO THE TURNING PROPELLER OF THE TOWPLANE.
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 for the Bellanca 8GCBC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,012 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 868 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,473 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: T/H Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: 9XS9 Katy TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 9XS9 Katy TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 192°F (89°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 494 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 378 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 239 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9XS9 Katy TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 9XS9 Katy TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N4167Y 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.