Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Ocala, Florida, October 30, 2003
On October 30, 2003 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5519K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida (Leeward Airranch airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the dual student to maintain airspeed (VS) and the CFI's improper supervision while turning to reverse direction resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin and collision with trees and the ground during the resultant uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2003 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Leeward Airranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5519K · no longer on the register · serial 384-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was instructing the student in a maneuver that called for a return to the departing runway after an engine failure. The CFI stated that he closed the throttle on the student as they crossed the departure end of runway 36, about 700 feet above the ground. The student started a left hand turn back to the runway at a bank angle of about 60 degrees, in order to make the runway. At some point during the turn the student applied an excessive rudder input, stalling and causing the aircraft to enter a spin. The CFI took the controls and recovered the airplane. During the recovery, the airplane struck an 8-inch diameter oak tree. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that there was insufficient distance for the airplane to clear the oak tree grove from the altitude at which the CFI recovered. The aircraft struck the tree in a climbing attitude causing the fuselage to break and bend the left landing gear. The airplane rotated counterclockwise as it fell tail first through the remaining trees before impacting the ground tail first, which it then fell over coming to rest on its back. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,804 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 17, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2003; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO 320 E1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FD04 Ocala/Belleview FL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,250 ft by 175 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from FD04
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.