Piper PA-38-112 and Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Rosamond, California, July 16, 1983
On July 16, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-38-112 (N9905T) and Bellanca 8GCBC (N8667V), were involved in the same accident near Rosamond, California (Rosamond airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 16, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rosamond, California · Rosamond · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9905T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8667V · registry record · serial 170-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-38, N9905T, AND A BELLANCA 8GCBC, N8667V, COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION OF RWYS 22 & 25, WHILE THE ACFT WERE LANDING. THE PIPER PA-38 WAS ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WHILE THE BELLANCA WAS BEING USED TO TOW GLIDERS. THE AIRCREW IN THE PA-38 SAW THE BELLANCA, JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT & INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE BELLANCA PLT DID NOT SEE THE PA-38 UNTIL THE IMPACT OCCURRED. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT WING OF THE PA-38 AND THE PROPELLER & NOSE OF THE BELLANCA WERE DAMAGED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Bellanca 8GCBC final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PIPER PA-38, N9905T, AND A BELLANCA 8GCBC, N8667V, COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION OF RWYS 22 & 25, WHILE THE ACFT WERE LANDING. THE PIPER PA-38 WAS ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WHILE THE BELLANCA WAS BEING USED TO TOW GLIDERS. THE AIRCREW IN THE PA-38 SAW THE BELLANCA, JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT & INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE BELLANCA PLT DID NOT SEE THE PA-38 UNTIL THE IMPACT OCCURRED. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT WING OF THE PA-38 AND THE PROPELLER & NOSE OF THE BELLANCA WERE DAMAGED.
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 for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,987 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 3,895 as pilot in command; 1,675 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1983; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,616 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Bellanca 8GCBC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,379 hours in all; 386 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,238 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1983; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aronson'S Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,294 ft by 40 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N9905T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.