Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Kalispell, Montana, May 14, 1992
On May 14, 1992 at about 11:24 pm local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered CGEAF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kalispell, Montana (Kalispell City 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1992 · about 11:24 pm local time
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Kalispell City · 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
- CGEAF · no longer on the register · serial 17675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST DURING THE LANDING ROLL0UT AND, FEARING A GROUNDLOOP, INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HE ADDED FULL POWER, BUT DID NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR HANGARS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SO HE TURNED RIGHT TO GAIN ALTITUDE OVER A HIGHWAY. THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BASEBALL BACKSTOP, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO A STOP IN A COMMUNITY PARK ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WINESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE MADE A G0-AROUND AND CONTINUED DRIFTING IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE UNTIL IT STALLED.
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: 181 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,520 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Morgan Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: FCA Kalispell MT at 10:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from FCA, 9 miles away
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.