# NTSB LAX87FA136: Bellanca 7KCAB, N8713V, Lebec, CA, March 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1987, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Lebec, CA
- Coordinates: 34.860282, -118.870689 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8603&lon=-118.8707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA136

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT RCVD 2 WX BRIEFINGS & WAS ADZD OF LOW CEILINGS, RESTRICTED VISIBILITIES & MTN OBSCUREMENT ALONG THE ROUTE. ALSO, HE WAS ADZD THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE SURVIVING PAX SAID THAT AFTER ENTERING THE MTN AREA, THEY CONTD 'IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS' & THAT THE PLT 'HAD TO CLIMB STRAIGHT UP INTO THE CLOUDS . . . THEN IT (THE ACFT) STRUCK SOMETHING.'  THREE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS SAW THE ACFT FLYING JUST BENEATH CLOUDS WHICH THEY ESTD WERE ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE OFFICERS RPRTD THE ACFT CIRCLED TWICE, THEN PROCEEDED ALONG THE HIGHWAY & DISAPPEARED IN A CLOUD BANK. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ACFT CRASHED ON STEEPLY RISING, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A TREETOP LOCATED IN A RAVINE. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING HEAVY SKI CLOTHING. AFTER A TIME, THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS & TOOK A BLANKET FROM THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE, SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE HIGHWAY FOR HELP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8713V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8713V-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N 519-75, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51975
- Airframe hours: 3402
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Douglass L. Bruce
- Registered owner: Bruce, Douglass L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1986, 4 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,813 total, 435 in this make and model, 2,228 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm

## 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 19870306005269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870306005269A), Mar 6, 1987: Bbavia 7KCAB, Lebec, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Continued flight into low ceiling and visibility following highway. Struck mountainside climbing into clouds.

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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