Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Frederick, Colorado, September 28, 1994
On September 28, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N53844, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Colorado (Frederick (Private) airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Colorado · Frederick (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N53844 · registry record · serial 551-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL, FOLLOWING A STUDENT PRACTICE FULL STALL LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE BROKE AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE SAFETY BOARD'S LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THE AXLE FAILED IN FATIGUE. RESEARCH DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION TO INDICATE THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,130 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1994; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.