Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Sunriver, Oregon, January 14, 1983
On January 14, 1983, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N29757, was destroyed in an accident near Sunriver, Oregon (Sunriver 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 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
- January 14, 1983
- Place
- Sunriver, Oregon · Sunriver · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N29757 · no longer on the register · serial 621-80
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB AND REVERSED COURSE BACK OVER THE RUNWAY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND NOSED DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD CALLED ON UNICOM AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY. HE HAD ALSO DISCUSSED DOING A ROLL OVER THE AIRPORT WITH AIRPORT EMPLOYEES WHO ADVISED AGAINST IT. NO ONE COULD ESTABLISH THAT THE PILOT HAD ANY AEROBATIC TRAINING. ALSO THE TOXICOLOGICAL REPORT SHOWED THE PILOT'S URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL AS 0.141%.
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
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1982; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-HIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Merrill OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.