Bellanca 14-13-2 accident near Sodus Bay, New York, September 30, 1988
On September 30, 1988 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-13-2, registered N74425, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sodus Bay, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 30, 1988 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Sodus Bay, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-13-2 · all 14-13-2s on the register
- Registration
- N74425 · no longer on the register · serial 1538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOW LEVEL PLEASURE FLT OVER WATER THE PLT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE WATER. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE WATER AND REMAINED UPRIGHT. THE PLT AND PAX EXITED THE ACFT AND WERE PICKED UP BY A PASSING BOAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ACFT SANK AND WAS LATER SALVAGED. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS INFLICTED ON THE LEFT WING, PROPELLER, AND ENGINE COWL.
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: 1,539 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,042 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1988; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8B4 North Rose NY at 7:55 pm
- Destination: 8B4
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.