Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Kiefer, Oklahoma, March 17, 1984
On March 17, 1984 at about 10:19 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5502V, was destroyed in an accident near Kiefer, Oklahoma. 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 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 17, 1984 · about 10:19 pm local time
- Place
- Kiefer, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5502V · no longer on the register · serial 410-78
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED AS IT SPUN INTO THE GROUND AFTER HAVING BEEN OBSERVED DOING AEROBATICS BETWEEN 800 AND 1500 AGL. THE MANEUVERS INCLUDED BARREL ROLLS AND HAMMERHEAD STALLS. THE LAST MANEUVER ENDED IN A SPIN THAT WAS SAID TO LAST ABOUT5 TURNS BEFORE IMPACT. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW RIGHT WING LEADING ATTITUDE. A CALCULATON OF THE ACFT WT & BALANCE SHOWED THAT THE CG WAS AT THE AFT EDGE OF THE ALLOWABLE ENVELOPE FOR AEROBATICS. THE PLT WHO FLEW THE ACFT AN HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFICIENCIES. POSITIVE CONTROL IS NECESSARY FOR SPIN RECOVERY IN THIS ACFT AS OPPOSSED TO THE C-150/152 WHICH THE PLT WAS EXPERIENCED IN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,846 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2,242 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 919 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1983; 261 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Tulsa OK at 10:07 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from TUL, 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.