Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Red Bluff, California, October 25, 1987
On October 25, 1987 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N8645V, was destroyed in an accident near Red Bluff, California (Dye Creek Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 25, 1987 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Red Bluff, California · Dye Creek Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N8645V · no longer on the register · serial 508-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ASKED TO MOVE HIS AIRCRAFT FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP ON WHICH HE HAD LANDED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT MADE A LEFT WINGOVER, REVERSED COURSE AND BUZZED THE RUNWAY AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 30 - 40 FEET. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND, NEAR THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ENTERED A BARREL ROLL. AS THE AIRCRAFT NEARED THE COMPLETION OF THE ROLL IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 220 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 174 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,127 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 28, 1987; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from RDD, 10 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.
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.