Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Phoenix, Arizona, December 18, 1988
On December 18, 1988 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N36627, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley 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
- December 18, 1988 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley · 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
- N36627 · no longer on the register · serial 392-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS COMPLETING HIS LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 25L, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS BLOWN SIDEWAYS BY A GUST OF WIND. HE STATED THAT HE THEN APPLIED POWER TO AVOID A GROUND LOOP. WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND FLEW DOWNWIND ACROSS RUNWAY 25R AND OVER AN AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF THE FENCE AND THEN NOSED DOWN AND COLLIDED WITH A BUSH. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 150 FT NORTH OF THE AIRPORT FENCE. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 230 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 328 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 253 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,232 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 1988; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 8,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from DVT
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.