# NTSB CEN23LA205: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5038E, Larchwood, IA, May 29, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 29, 2023, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Larchwood, IA · 2VA Airpark - Coordinates: 43.44995, -96.403169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4500&lon=-96.4032&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192252 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192252/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192252 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The passenger stated they were taking off from a paved taxiway at a private airstrip when the airplane pitched up higher than normal and stalled. He recalled that the pilot told him that they were stalling. The airplane descended and impacted the terrain adjacent to the taxiway. Impact signatures were consistent with a low-energy impact indicative of an aerodynamic stall. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airframe, fuel, system, flight controls, or engine that would have resulted in the loss of control. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2023, about 1330 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB airplane, N5038E, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Larchwood, Iowa. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger had minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he did not recall anything about the accident. The passenger reported that his memory was vague but did recall taking off from the taxiway of a private airstrip (Larchwood-Zangger Vintage Airpark, 2VA). He recalled that he felt a little bit of a roller coaster sensation on the climb out. The airplane seemed to pitch up higher than normal, and then seemed to stall. He recalled that he heard the pilot say that they were stalling. He did not recall seeing the ground or impact with the ground. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120 that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. Examination of the accident site showed that the airplane impacted the ground about 700 ft to the left of the departure end of the paved taxiway. The front of the fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. Impact damage and low energy signatures were consistent with a stall. Examination of the flight controls revealed continuity from the cockpit to the rudder, ailerons, elevator, and elevator trim surfaces. Interruptions in the flight control continuity were attributed to impact damage. Fuel was present in the fuel lines and the carburetor bowl. The fuel tanks were breached, but first responders noted that fuel was leaking and the grass around the wreckage showed blight from fuel leakage. Examination of the engine revealed continuity throughout the drivetrain. Thumb compression was verified on all valves and cylinders. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the airframe, fuel, system, flight controls, or the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5038E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5038E), registered now, S/N 481-79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-320-series) (registry code 41500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 481-79 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 1250 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320 SER 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 2VA, Larchwood-Zangger Vintage Airpark, runway 170, 3,179 × 90 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 694 total, 42 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KLYV, 13 nm away - METAR: KLYV 291835Z AUTO 19009G16KT 10SM CLR 25/13 A2990 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230529012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230529012999A), May 29, 2023: Bellanca 8KCAB, Larchwood, IA, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff aircraft impacted ground, right wing impacted first causing aircraft to cartwheel on nose and left wing, coming to rest on belly in corn… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192252. 4.2 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN23LA205 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17684184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN23LA205_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record passenger interview summary CEN23LA205 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17681144&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Passenger%20Interview%20Summary%20CEN23LA205_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record accident site and wreckage examination CEN23LA205 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17684424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Accident%20Site%20and%20Wreckage%20Examination%20CEN23LA205_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs CEN23LA205 (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 493 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17684482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN23LA205-Rel.pdf - Iowa state patrol incident report CEN23LA205 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17684292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Iowa%20State%20Patrol%20Incident%20Report%20CEN23LA205_Redacted-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.