Bellanca 8KCAB accident near New Milford, Connecticut, April 15, 1987
On April 15, 1987 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N377SW, was destroyed in an accident near New Milford, Connecticut (Candlelight Farms airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- April 15, 1987 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- New Milford, Connecticut · Candlelight Farms
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N377SW · no longer on the register · serial 5573
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 16 AT THE CANDLELIGHT FARMS AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT REMAINED LOW OVER THE RUNWAY WHILE GAINING AIRSPEED. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE UPWIND END OF THE RUNWAY, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT ENTER A STEEP CLIMB THAT CONTINUED TO AN ESTIMATED HEIGHT OF 700 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN. AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMB, THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DIVING SPIRAL THAT CONTINUED UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ON THE AIRPORT NEAR THE UPWIND END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAM OF THE ACFT AND ENG DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ACFT COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,484 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 5,545 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,258 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Joseph E. Seagram & Sons,Inc.
The flight
- Destination: HPN White Plains NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,600 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.