# NTSB IAD79FA038: Bellanca 8KCAB, N31278, Queenstown, MD, March 7, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 7, 1979
- Place: Queenstown, MD · QUEENSTOWN, MD
- Location: 38.9867° N, 76.1633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Queenstown, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9867&lon=-76.1633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1144   79/3/7    QUEENSTOWN,MD       BELLANCA 8KCAB      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1410                    N31278              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  AGE 62, 5402 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EASTON,MD                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- PREVIOUS OWNERS REPORTED STICK ENTANGLEMENT W FRONT SHOULDER HARNESS DURING FULL FORWARD MANEUVERS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31278](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31278-1982-07-23), registration cancelled 1982-07-23, S/N 51-72, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790307011669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790307011669A), Mar 7, 1979: Blanca 8KCAB, Queenstown, MD, Destroyed. Engaged in practice low level acrobatics,attempted pull out from vertical dive too near ground level.

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.

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