Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Phoenix, Arizona, June 7, 1990
On June 7, 1990 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N50353, was destroyed in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. 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 PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1990 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N50353 · no longer on the register · serial 524-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN AND WAS NOT REPORTED OVERDUE OR MISSING. EARLY THE NEXT DAY A PILOT FLYING IN THE PHOENIX AREA REPORTED RECEIVING AN ELT SIGNAL EMMITTING FROM THE LOCAL AEROBATIC PRACTICE AREA. SEARCH PERSONNEL FOUND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN SPARSELY INHABITED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF ANY AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 875 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO320E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ at 1:00 pm
- Destination: GEU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.