Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Florence, Arizona, April 17, 1988
On April 17, 1988 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N5504S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florence, Arizona. 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 17, 1988 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5504S · registry record · serial 277-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, RESTARTED, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A DRY WASH WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. APPROXIMATELY 4 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS FOUND AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE INSPECTION. THE ENG RAN SATISFACTORILY AT ALL POWER SETTINGS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 25 MILES OFF COURSE.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,882 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 594 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-CIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 4:40 pm
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:49 pm from PHX
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 N5504S 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.