Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Lower Lake, California, April 27, 1986
On April 27, 1986, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N8549R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lower Lake, California (Pearce airport). It was a personal 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
- April 27, 1986
- Place
- Lower Lake, California · Pearce · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N8549R · no longer on the register · serial 4315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE ACFT DEPARTED LAMPSON ARPT THE LEFT LDG GEAR DID NOT RETRACT. GND WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITH ONLY THE LEFT GEAR EXTENDED. THE PLT REPORTED HE OBSERVED ALL THREE LDG GEAR DOWN GREEN LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ACFT LANDED ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY SKIDDED OFF THE RUNWAY. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL LIFTED THE AIRPLANE AND MANUALLY PUMPED THE RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLIES DOWN USING THE AIRPLANE'S MANUAL HYDRAULIC HAND PUMP. THE AIRPLANE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM COULD BE INSPECTED.
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: 165 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 109 Lakeport CA at 11:50 pm
- Destination: 2O9 Lower Lake CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,485 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.