# NTSB WPR14CA366: Bellanca 8KCAB, N31273, Black Rock City, NV, September 6, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2014, 19:45 local (Sep 6, 2014, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Black Rock City, NV - Coordinates: 40.766666, -119.207778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7667&lon=-119.2078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA366 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's disorientation as a result of dust which reduced visibility. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after touchdown on a dirt airstrip he encountered a reduction in visibility due to what he believed to be dust kicked up due to a tailwind. The loss of visibility resulted in the airplane departing the runway and subsequently nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and to the left wing tip. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after touchdown on a dirt airstrip he encountered a reduction in visibility due to what he believed to be dust kicked up due to a tailwind. The loss of visibility resulted in the airplane departing the runway and subsequently nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and to the left wing tip. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31273](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31273), registered now, S/N 52-72 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52-72 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2706 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2014, 97 hours before - Departed: WMC, Winnemucca, CA - Destination: Black Rock City, CA - Airport: 88NV, Black Rock City, runway 7R, 5,280 × 60 ft, dirt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 211.6 total, 51.7 in this make and model, 131.6 as pilot in command, 77.5 in the last 90 days, 32.2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KWMC ## 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 20140905016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140905016309A), Sep 5, 2014: Bellanca 8KCAB, Gerlach, NV, Substantial damage. The pilot stated: shortly after touch down on runway 07R his visibility was reduced significantly by dust that he believed was kicked up by the touchdown and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90033. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - On Scene Photo- Provided by Pershing County Sheriff (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photo-%20Provided%20by%20Pershing%20County%20Sheriff-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.