Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1984
On June 14, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N9178L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mahaffey, Pennsylvania (Miller airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mahaffey, Pennsylvania · Miller · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N9178L · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE PREPARED LANDING AREA IN TALL WEEDS AND ROCKS WHERE IT NOSED OVER. THE PLT HAD CHANGED FROM A GRAVEL RWY TO THE DIRT ONE BECAUSE OF DOWNDRAFTS. THE 1ST LANDING ON THE DIRT RWY WAS MADE ON THE WHEELS AND WHEN THE TAIL LOWERED THE PLT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 20 DEGREES AND THE PLT TRIED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER TO NO AVAIL. AT THE RWYS EDGE FULL RIGHT BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE ACFT CONTINUED INTO THE GRASS AND ROCKS. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. WHEN THE B NUT ON THE BRAKE LINE AT THE LEFT WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LOOSENED THE BRAKE RELEASED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,100 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDT Middletown PA at 5:10 pm
- Destination: PN56 Miller PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC84LA210.