Bellanca BL28 accident near Ledbetter, Kentucky, October 20, 1996
On October 20, 1996 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bellanca BL28, registered N5029G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ledbetter, Kentucky (Private Grass Strip airport). 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
the pilot's delay in executing a go-around, and his failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1996 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ledbetter, Kentucky · Private Grass Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL28
- Registration
- N5029G · registry record · serial 288-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was not satisfied with his first two approaches to land, so he went around each time. He said that on his third approach to land '...everything looked good...' so he 'dropped the plane on the field...' but used up too much runway and tried to go around again. He said the airplane '...started hitting the ground with the right wing...' and then cart-wheeled and came to rest against a tree. According to an FAA report, the pilot reported he stalled the aircraft and the right wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel. The aircraft came to rest 180 degree from the landing direction.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-CIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:56 pm from PAH
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.