# NTSB BFO92FA141: Champion 7KCAB, N561EK, East Haddam, CT, September 14, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1992, 16:43 local (20:43 UTC)
- Place: East Haddam, CT
- Location: 41.4457° N, 72.4556° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GOODSPEED (42B), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4457&lon=-72.4556&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11736/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA141

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER WITHOUT ADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - low pass - intentional, pilot in command
  - ostentatious display, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A LOW ALTITUDE PASS, ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, OVER THE RUNWAY.  THE FLIGHT WAS BEING VIDEOTAPED BY A FRIEND OF THE PILOT.  REVIEW OF THE VIDEOTAPE SHOWED THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 360 DEGREE ROLL ON THE ACCIDENT PASS.  THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE REMAINED HIGH THROUGH THE FIRST 180 DEGREES OF THE ROLL, HOWEVER, ONCE INVERTED, THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY IN A 53 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER COMPLETING 330 DEGREES OF THE ROLL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N561EK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N561EK-1993-08-25), registration cancelled 1993-08-25, S/N 174 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 174
- Airframe hours: 1457
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John S. Hendry
- Registered owner: John S. Hendry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1992, 23 hours before
- Departed: 42B
- Destination: 42B
- Airport: 42B, Goodspeed, runway 14, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,800 total, 8,600 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HFD, 1 nm away

## 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 19920914037509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920914037509A), Sep 14, 1992: Bbavia 7KCAB, East Haddam, CT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Began a roll on low passover runway nose high then dived into ground adjacent to runway.

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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