Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Wendover, Utah, March 14, 1994
On March 14, 1994 at about 3:27 am local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N8885R, was destroyed in an accident near Wendover, Utah (Wendover airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1994 · about 3:27 am local time
- Place
- Wendover, Utah · Wendover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N8885R · no longer on the register · serial 4247
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AREA OFF THE SOUTH END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY PROVIDES NO GROUND REFERENCE AT NIGHT. IT IS DESCRIBED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL AS A 'BLACK HOLE' DURING DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE FLAT DRY LAKE BED, ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,503 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 214 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,100 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.