Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Joaquin, Texas, June 7, 1995
On June 7, 1995, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N8754, was destroyed in an accident near Joaquin, 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 PERFORMANCE OF AEROBATICS AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1995
- Place
- Joaquin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N8754 · no longer on the register · serial 78-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES INITIALLY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT TREE TOP ALTITUDE ALONG A RIVER PAST THE TOWN WHERE THE PILOT RESIDED. THEY REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE PERFORM THIS TYPE OF FLIGHT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE AIRPLANE REVERSED COURSE AND WAS OBSERVED BY A WITNESS TO ROLL 'UPSIDE DOWN (LEFT WING UP FIRST)' AND 'QUIVER, NOT VIOLENTLY, BUT AS THOUGH IT HAD A CHILL' AFTER WHICH 'THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE PLANE PLUNGED VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND.' ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE 'DID A REAL SHARP RIGHT' AND 'FLEW DIRECTLY INTO THE TREES AND [RIVER] BANK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND BURST INTO FLAMES.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY STRUCTURAL OR MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED 4 HOURS OF BASIC AEROBATIC INSTRUCTION AND LOGGED 115 HOURS OF AEROBATIC FLIGHT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,561 hours in all; 326 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: F17 Center TX at 11:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from OCH, 43 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.