Bellanca 14-13 accident near Merritt Island, Florida, January 2, 1988
On January 2, 1988 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-13, registered N8429H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1988 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-13 · all 14-13s on the register
- Registration
- N8429H · no longer on the register · serial 1062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AFTER TAKEOFF. HE THEN COLLIDED WITH WATER AFTER HITTING A MAST OF A BOAT AND A DOCK. THE PLT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED CARBURETOR ICE PRIOR TO THE ENG QUITTING. THE PLT STATED THAT ON AN EARLIER FLT HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CARB ICE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THIS FLT WAS FOR A TEST OF THE LNDG GEAR. HE STATED THAT ANOTHER ACFT ON A X-COUNTRY HAD USED CARB HEAT FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. HE STATED IN HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR PREVENTION TO USE CARB HEAT FOR TAKEOFF IN SIMILAR TEMP/DP CONDITIONS.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A5-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COI Merritt Island FL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MLB Melborune FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MCO, 31 miles away
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.