# NTSB OAK78FA043: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5506Y, Caruthers, CA, August 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 18, 1978
- Place: Caruthers, CA · CARUTHERS, CA
- Location: 36.5399° N, 119.8450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Caruthers, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5399&lon=-119.8450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FA043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FA043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2515  78/8/18  NR.CARUTHERS,CA       BELLANCA 8KCAB      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 85 TOTAL
        TIME - 1155                    N5506Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 6 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SELMA,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        REMARKS- CRASHED IN A VINEYARD WHILE PULLING OUT OF UNAUTHORIZED ACROBATIC MANEUVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5506Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5506Y-1978-11-24), registration cancelled 1978-11-24, S/N 42678 (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 19780818029299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780818029299A), Aug 18, 1978: Blanca 8KCA/, Caruthers, CA, Destroyed. Crashed in a vineyard while pulling out of unauthorized acrobaticeuver.

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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