Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Madison, Connecticut, June 25, 1983
On June 25, 1983 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N2979T, was destroyed in an accident near Madison, Connecticut (Griswold airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 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
- June 25, 1983 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Connecticut · Griswold
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N2979T · registry record · serial 641-80
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS DURING AN AIRSHOW. WITNESSES SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE PILOT WAS HAVING TROUBLE STAYING IN THE ASSIGNED AREA FOR THE MANEUVERS BECAUSE OF HIGH WINDS. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS FROM 330 DEGREES. THE ACFT WAS NOT ONLY DRIFTING WITH THE WIND BUT THE PILOT WAS ALLOWING EACH MANEUVER TO GO LOWER AND WIDER AS LATER VIEWED ON VIDEO. THE LAST MANEUVER WAS A SNAP ROLL WHICH APPEARED TO BE IMPROPERLY EXECUTED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND IMPACT WITH THE GROUND/WATER. THE ACFT COCKPIT AREA WAS SUBMERGED IN WATER BUT THE PILOT WAS RESCUED. HE SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES, HOWEVER 4 DAYS LATER.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.