Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Warrenton, Virginia, March 28, 1997
On March 28, 1997 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N1118E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia (Faquier airport). It was a personal 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
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. The crosswind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1997 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Faquier
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N1118E · no longer on the register · serial 304-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the wind was approximately 16 to 18 knots with the windsock at a direct 90 degree crosswind to runway 14. The pilot stated that he did a go-around on his first landing attempt, because the two main gear did not touch at the same time. According to him, on the second landing attempt, the airplane encountered a gust of wind, and the tail shifted, which he corrected with aileron. The pilot stated that after passing trees on the side of the runway, a second gust of wind caught the tail, and the airplane went off the runway. According to the pilot, he added power to avoid a nose over and to jump a ditch. The pilot shut down engine power in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid striking trees, which were located adjacent to the runway at about three-quarters of its length.
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: 170 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VA36 Fork Union VA at 6:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,103 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.