Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Texas City, Texas, June 12, 1993
On June 12, 1993 at about 8:53 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N2977A, was destroyed in an accident near Texas City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE INTENTIONAL MANEUVER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1993 · about 8:53 pm local time
- Place
- Texas City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N2977A · registry record · serial 631-30
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS OVER A RESERVOIR. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ENTERING A SPIN AFTER PERFORMING A HAMMER HEAD STALL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED ON A LEVEE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RESERVOIR. THE PILOT ATTEMPETED TO PARACHUTE FROM THE AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT AND WAS EJECTED FROM THE AIRPLANE ON IMPACT, LANDING IN THE WATER. MANEUVER ENTRY ALTITUDE IS UNKNOWN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1993; 50 hours since
- 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
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from EFD, 15 miles away
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.
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.