Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Shoshone, California, July 7, 1991
On July 7, 1991 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N29BB, was destroyed in an accident near Shoshone, California (Shoshone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF THE BATTERY CABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1991 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Shoshone, California · Shoshone
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N29BB · registry record · serial 13-72
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT SMELLED SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT NEAR THE BATTERY STORAGE AREA. MOMENTS LATER FIRE ERUPTED IN THE LOWER LEFT COCKPIT AREA. BLACK SMOKE FROM THE OIL LINES BEGAN TO FILL THE COCKPIT AND THE FIRE BECAME MORE INTENSE CAUSING SERIOUS BURN INJURIES TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT BUT THE BURNING FIRE PREVENTED HIM FROM MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE BATTERY CABLE SHORTED AND BURNT THROUGH THE OIL AND FUEL PUMP LINES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,100 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 7,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1991; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P10 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.