What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On December 2, 2001 at approximately 1130 local time, the pilots were practicing a 4-point roll in a Bellanca 8KCAB, N50554. After the maneuver was completed, the aircraft nose dropped down between 20-30 degrees below the horizon. The pilots attempted to pull the flight controls to the aft position, and also the aircraft trim controls. Both attempts failed. Flight instructor ordered student to bail out. Both flight instructor and student bailed out of the aircraft over the ocean. Flight instructor suffers from a broken leg, right side; student had only minor injuries. Aircraft was lost at sea.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DECEMBER 2, 2001 AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 LOCAL TIME, THE PILOTS WERE PRACTICING A 4-POINT ROLL IN A BELLANCA 8KCAB, N50554. AFTER THE MANEUVER WAS COMPLETED, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE DROPPED DOWN BETWEEN 20-30 DEGREES BELOW THE HORIZON. THE PILOTS ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE AFT POSITION, AND ALSO THE AIRCRAFT TRIM CONTROLS. BOTH ATTEMPTS FAILED. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ORDERED STUDENT TO BAIL OUT. BOTH FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT BAILED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT OVER THE OCEAN. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SUFFERS FROM A BROKEN LEG, RIGHT SIDE; STUDENT HAD ONLY MINOR INJURIES. AIRCRAFT WAS LOST AT SEA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.