Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Corona, California, December 2, 2010
On December 2, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N11858, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Corona, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to oil exhaustion as a result of a broken oil line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Corona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N11858 · no longer on the register · serial 296-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The flight instructor took over the controls and made a forced landing on a golf course. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over into a sand trap, damaging the tail and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a large amount of oil covering the underside of the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed that the oil pressure line had failed just aft of the “B” nut that connected the line to the engine fitting resulting in the loss of all engine oil. Chaff marks were noted on the metal sleeve between the “B” nut and the flexible portion of the line. These chaff marks were the result of rubbing against the bottom side of the engine shock mount assembly. When the undamaged end of the oil line was installed on the engine fitting, it was noted that there was visible clearance between the line and the engine shock mount. It is likely that, with the engine operating, vibration resulted in contact between the line and the mount.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Eng oil dist (airframe furn) › Failure other cases naming the engine
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level other cases naming the engine
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 8,374 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 7,235 as pilot in command; 1,961 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 4, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,287 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 2010; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alliance International Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from AJO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 20, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 - Broken Oil Line Fitting | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 - Accident Airplane Nosed Over | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Examination Comments | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N11858: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Bellanca 7 Citabria 1,226 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bellanca 2,698 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES 1,708 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chino Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR11LA070.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.