# NTSB CEN19FA305: Champion 7GCBC, N5502S, Carpenter, WY, September 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: September 7, 2019, 14:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Carpenter, WY - Coordinates: 41.029998, -104.24639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0300&lon=-104.2464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Lycoming, Federal Aviation Administration; Casper FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19FA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100206/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100206 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA305 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery. ## 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 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed from a field and was climbing the airplane through about 100 to 200 ft above ground level. Witnesses stated, and surveillance video of the accident confirmed, that the airplane entered a left bank that increased to about 60° degrees as the airplane turned about 180°. The left bank continued to increase until the airplane entered a nose-down descent into the ground, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Both witnesses reported that the engine was operating throughout. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while turning during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2019, about 1440 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5502S, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Carpenter, Wyoming. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed a rough, dry field with areas of vegetation. Two witnesses near the field stated that they heard the airplane’s engine operating, and one of the witnesses said that it appeared as if the airplane “did not have enough airspeed” and stalled. Surveillance video of the flight showed the airplane enter a left bank that increased to about 60° until the airplane entered a nose-down descent into the ground from an estimated altitude of 100 to 200 ft above ground level. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. The wing flaps were retracted. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller and valve and drive train continuity were established. There was evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. There were no mechanical anomalies of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5502S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5502S-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 1036-78, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC (No Series) - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1036-78 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 1071 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2019, 12 hours before - Departed: Carpenter, WY - Destination: Fort Morgan, CO - Airport: runway 26, 1,100 × 135 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 524 total, 52 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 14 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: CYS, 25 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 20190907012709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190907012709A), Sep 7, 2019: Bellanca 7GCBC, Carpenter, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot lost control and stalled aircraft after takeoff from a grass strip. ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100206. 303 MB in all. - Witness statements (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11420331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20MASTER_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Surveillance video (item 2, ASF, 15.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11396515&FileExtension=ASF&FileName=090719%20from%20Shop-Rel.ASF - Video summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11421590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Video%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Record of examination (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11421469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20EXAMINATION%20MASTER-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook (item 5, PDF, 22 pages, 228 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11397332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Log%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Notebook of flights (item 6, PDF, 28 pages, 57.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11412147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Notebook-Rel.pdf - Party statement (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11411895&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Lycoming%20Party%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11412157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11412700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of wreckage (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 899 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11418874&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.