Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Tucson, Arizona, January 4, 1987
On January 4, 1987 at about 10:39 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N68557, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- January 4, 1987 · about 10:39 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N68557 · no longer on the register · serial 41-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF RUNWAY 24 DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND GUST FROM HIS LEFT DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF/CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING OR LANDING GEAR DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION LOCATED 13 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE WINDS FROM 200 DEG AT 13 KNOTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 339 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1986; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 10:30 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from TUS, 13 miles away
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 N68557 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.