Bellanca 8KCAB N2520Z
18 March 2000 · Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 March 2000 at about 16:10 local time, a Bellanca 8KCAB registered N2520Z was involved in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Vansant Airport (9N1)
- Coordinates
- 40.4904, -75.0795
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8KCAB
- Registration
- N2520Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- IAD00LA027
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
the improper entry into the traffic pattern by the pilot of the Piper airplane and the inadequate lookout by the pilots in both airplanes. A factor in the accident was that radio communication was not possible because the Piper was not so equipped, and the Bellanca's radios were turned off.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The flight instructor and private pilot flew the Bellanca airplane in the traffic pattern for several minutes, and were on the fourth approach to the runway at the time of the accident. The private pilot said they flew a 'squared off traffic pattern' and were approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl) on final approach when the other airplane's shadow passed over. The pilot of the Piper said he entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, but flew a modified base leg to final for noise abatement. Witnesses described the Bellanca above and behind the Piper after both airplanes turned final. They said the Bellanca overtook the Piper as it descended below the Piper in a slip. Three witnesses said the Bellanca slowed, pitched up, and was struck from behind by the Piper. One witness said the Bellanca's approach was on the runway heading, while the Piper's approach was '...tracking inbound left of the centerline on a slight angle.' The crew turned off the Bellanca's radios after engine start, and the Piper was not equipped with a communication radio. There was no locally published procedure for flight in and around the traffic pattern nor were there any depicted 'no fly' areas for purposes of noise abatement. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual: 'When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right of way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land, or to overtake that aircraft.' Each pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with their respective airplanes.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellanca 8KCAB 8KCAB | N2520Z | - | Substantial |
| Piper PA-25 PA-25 | N7460Z | - | Substantial |
Other Bellanca 8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 2000 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Immokalee, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Bellanca 8GCBC | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2000 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Niceville, Florida, United States | Charles Clayton Burkhart | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2000 | Bellanca 8KCAB | San Jose, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Jun 2000 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Bend, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Capron, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2000 | Mooney M-20F | Parker, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Cessna 172H | Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Sep 2000 | Aeronca 11AC-991 | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 2000 | Beechcraft BE-55 | Erie, Pennsylvania, United States | John Farrell | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 May 2000 | Rotorway ROTORWAY 162F EXEC | McMurray, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Foulke EUROPA TRI-GEAR | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |