Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Fremont, California, October 6, 1983
On October 6, 1983, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N88314, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Sailing airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 6, 1983
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Sailing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N88314 · registry record · serial 482-74
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED DURING LANDING AFTER AN AERIAL GLIDER TOW. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PERFORMED 23 GLIDER TOWS THAT DAY AND HE MAY HAVE BECOME FATIGUED. HE WAS ACCUSTUMED TO MAKING A LOW LEVEL TURN TO A SHORT FINAL FROM A BASE LEG AT 100 FT AGL. THIS TIME HIS AIRSPEED WAS SLOWER. THE PLT SAID HE EXPERIENCED A 'MIND VOID'. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN HE WAS IN A SLIP AND LANDED ON THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL. THE GEAR FAILED AND THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 484 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,390 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 15, 1983; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 10 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N88314 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.