Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Yuma, Arizona, October 6, 1986
On October 6, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N8727V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma Aux. Fld. 4 airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 6, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma Aux. Fld. 4 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N8727V · no longer on the register · serial 525-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELLANCA 7KCAB LOST CONTROL AND VEERED OFF RWY 16. THE CFI INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT DURING LANDING ROLL. THE STUDENT PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL AND THE AIRCRAFT SWUNG LEFT AND GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED OFF THE RWY SHOULDER, BREAKING A GEAR STRUT. THEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING SPAR. THE CFI ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,550 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 3,472 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,348 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,900 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from YUM, 10 miles away
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.