Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Makawao, Hawaii, September 25, 1982
On September 25, 1982 at about 2:30 am local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N8656V, was destroyed in an accident near Makawao, Hawaii. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1982 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Makawao, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N8656V · no longer on the register · serial 510-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES, THE OWNER NEEDED ABOUT 15 MORE HOURS IN THE TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT BEFORE HE COULD FLY SOLO WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR. ON 9/24 AND 9/25, THE OWNER AND INSTRUCTOR PLANNED TO FLY THE NEEDED TIME. MAUI TOWER CONTROLLERS REPORTED THE PLANE DEPARTED TO THE SOUTHEAST TOWARD HAIKU OR MAKAWAO, HAWAII, NEAR WHERE THE OWNER LIVED. AT 1623 HST, MAUI TOWER ADVISED N8656V THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST DUE TO THE PLANE'S LOCATION NEAR HALEAKALA AND N8656V RESPONDED WITH "ROGER". AT ABOUT 1630 HST, THREE KNOWN WITNESSES SAW OR HEARD THE PLANE BEFORE IT CRASHED. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED IT FLYING OVER RISING TERRAIN AT LOW ALTITUDE, AND THEN TURN LEFT. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE PLANE TURNED TOWARD A DOWNHILL HEADING, IT SUDDENLY NOSE DIVED. THE PLANE CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT AND BURNED. THE ELEVATION WAS 3200 FT MSL AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 84 DEGREES. STRONG TRADE WINDS WERE REPORTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PRECRASH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Kahului HI at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Kahului HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.