Bellanca KCAB accident near Taft, California, June 15, 1986
On June 15, 1986 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Bellanca KCAB, registered N8780, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taft, California (Taft 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 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
- June 15, 1986 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Taft, California · Taft · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca KCAB
- Registration
- N8780 · registry record · serial 362-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CITABREA BOUNCED ON LANDING AND GROUND LOOPED ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED. THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED AND ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT. THE LEFT WING ROSE PLACING THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WITH THE RIGHT WING LOW. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE RUNWAY SHOULDER. THE PILOT ALSO INDICATED THAT WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.
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: 139 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,970 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BFL, 25 miles away
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.