Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Pahrump, Nevada, November 5, 1992
On November 5, 1992 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N57644, was destroyed in an accident near Pahrump, Nevada. 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 MISJUDGED THE PULL UP ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1992 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pahrump, Nevada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N57644 · no longer on the register · serial 125-74
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER COMPLETING A SERIES OF MANEUVERS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERED FROM THE SPIN, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED ON IMPACT AND THE CABIN/COCKPIT AREA WAS INCINERATED BY THE POST IMPACT FIRE. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVERS. INVESTIGATORS ESTABLISHED CONTINUITY OF THE EMPENNAGE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE CABIN/COCKPIT AREA. THE PROPELLER BLADES DISPLAYED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 896 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 1992; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NV74 at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.