# Accident 20170409008449A: Bellanca 8KCAB, Stafford, KS, April 9, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 2017, 13:00 local time
- Place: Stafford, KS
- Airport: Stafford Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9583° N, 98.6503° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9583&lon=-98.6503&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55067, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55067) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 8KCAB (registry code 1220801, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-320 series (registry code 41500, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-320 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 21,038 total, 1,464 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170409008449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING TAKE-OFF.  THE AIRPORT HAS TURF RUNWAYS WHICH WERE WET AFTER RAIN.  A LARGE OPEN AREA OF TURF IS AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF SEVERAL HANGARS.   THERE IS A RAISED AREA IN FRONT OF THE HANGARS WHICH RUNS PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY 13 RIGHT.  STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR THIS RUNWAY CANNOT BE SEEN DUE TO THE HILL.  OUTSIDE THE RUNWAY, WHEAT IS PLANTED ON BOTH SIDES, WHICH AT THIS DATE WAS MATURING TO ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL.

THE PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKE OFF ROLL JUST OUTSIDE THE HANGAR ENTRANCE, EXPECTING TO SEE THE RUNWAY AS HE CRESTED THE HILL.   BUT HE WAS OFF TO THE RIGHT AND WAS HEADED FOR A CORNER OF THE WHEAT FIELD.  THE AIRCRAFT TAIL WAS ALREADY FLYING AS HE TRIED TO MOVE LEFT TO ALIGN WITH THE RUNWAY.  BUT IN THIS PROCESS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND VEERED OFF INTO THE WHEAT ON THE EAST (OPPOSITE) SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED THE MUDDY FIELD OF WHEAT, WHICH SLOWED HIM IMMEDIATELY.  AFTER ABOUT 100 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, PUTTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER INTO THE MUD.  AT THE TIME OF INVESTIGATION ONE DAY LATER, THE WHEEL RUTS WERE STILL FILLED WITH WATER FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA17CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA234), Apr 9, 2017: Bellanca 8KCAB (N55067), Stafford, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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