Bellanca 8KCAB accident near Pomeroy, Washington, June 21, 1996
On June 21, 1996 at about 1:58 am local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, registered N57514, was destroyed in an accident near Pomeroy, Washington. 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 maintain adequate clearance with the surrounding terrain while maneuvering to land. A factor was the rising terrain conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1996 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- Pomeroy, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N57514 · no longer on the register · serial 96-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the aircraft overfly the pilot's east-west turf landing strip traveling westbound at an estimated height of 50 feet above the runway in straight and level flight. The witnesses reported having seen the pilot arrive and overfly his airstrip in a similar fashion on previous occasions. The closest witness reported observing the aircraft 'passing the east end of the runway' and entering 'a steep climb' and then banking 'to the left in a steep diving turn' after which 'it leveled out and began a climb after a 270 degree turn.' The witness also reported that 'the only difference (he) noticed between this occasion and the many times (he) had seen this plane land in the past was the turn seemed to be tighter.' The aircraft impacted 25 degree upsloping terrain approximately 50 feet below the rim level at which his airstrip was situated. One propeller blade displayed 'S' bending deformation while the opposing blade displayed tip curl.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,468 hours in all; 256 in this make and model; 1,401 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1993
- 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: Pasco WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from PUW, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N57514 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.