Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Westcliffe, Colorado, December 17, 1993
On December 17, 1993 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5065G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westcliffe, Colorado. 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
WAS FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD BEARING. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1993 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Westcliffe, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5065G · no longer on the register · serial 597-80
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER BEING AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING THE COCKPIT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND ON TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE NUMBER TWO CORRECTING ROD BEARING FAILED AND THE ROD EXITED THROUGH THE ENGINE CASE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,585 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,585 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 1V6 Fremont County CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.