N8946

On April 4, 2024, at 22:11 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N8946, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bluff Dale, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that he was on a night visual flight rule (VFR) cross country from Brownwood Regional Airport (BWD), Brownwood, Texas, to Granbury Regional Airport (GDJ), Granbury, Texas. He said that during the flight he saw flames coming from the oil access door on the upper right side of the engine cowling. The pilot shut off fuel to the engine and executed an emergency descent. He landed in a field 15 nautical miles southwest of GDJ. The pilot exited the airplane and the airplane continued to burn and was destroyed by the fire.

The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.