Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Buckland, Massachusetts, November 4, 1990
On November 4, 1990 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N5039K, was destroyed in an accident near Buckland, Massachusetts (Barnes airport). It was a personal flight 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE STAND OF TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1990 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buckland, Massachusetts · Barnes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5039K · no longer on the register · serial 491-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N5039K WAS ASKED TO PERFORM AEROBATIC MANEUVERS FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY. HE DEPARTED FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT AND FLEW OVER THE AREA WHERE THE PARTY WAS BEING HELD. WITNESSES SAID HE APPROACHED FROM THE SOUTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AND ROLLED THE AIRPLANE TO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. DURING THE LOW ALTITUDE ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A STAND OF TREES.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BAF Westfield MA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.