Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Buckeye, Arizona, November 26, 1993
On November 26, 1993 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N50412, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1993 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N50412 · registry record · serial 598-80
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION A SMALL FLECK OF PARTICULATE CONTAMINATION WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK. BOTH TANKS WERE ABOUT ONE-HALF FULL, FOR A TOTAL LOAD OF BETWEEN 17 AND 18 GALLONS. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL AREA ACROBATIC FLIGHT. AFTER A SERIES OF MANEUVERS WHICH INCLUDED SLOW AND POINT ROLLS, LOOPS, AND CUBAN EIGHTS, THE ENGINE 'COUGHED SIGNIFICANTLY,' AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND RUN CONTINUOUSLY ROUGH WITH A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND A FORCED LANDING IN DESERT TERRAIN BECAME NECESSARY. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT SOIL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND NOSED OVER. RESPONDING FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE.
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: 382 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1993; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.