Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Challis, Idaho, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N86980, was substantially damaged in an accident near Challis, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N86980 · no longer on the register · serial 41-74
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATED WIFE HAD VACATIONED AT A REMOTE CABIN IN THE WILDERNESS. THE TIME OF THEIR DEPARTURE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ON A RIDGE, NEAR A SADDLE THAT LED THROUGH CANYONS AND VALLEYS TO THEIR EXPECTED DESTINATION. IMPACT CRATERS AND WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL TO THE RIDGE. PROPELLER DAMAGE AND BLADE STRIKES ON TREES INDICATED THAT POWER WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,269 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 3,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Triple Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.