CHI01LA137

The airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain and post impact fire following a low level roll maneuver on final. The pilot was fatally injured. A witness stated, "[Another witness] and I were at the airport. We helped [the pilot] get his airplane out of the west hanger. He said he was going to fly around the patch. He stated he would do a roll on final approach to runway 17. We watched him take off and flew around the pattern. On final approach he started to roll the plane. He rolled it about 3/4 the way around and then was diving toward the ground and never could pull it up. We saw a fire ball when it hit." A witness stated, "If he would have had 75 - 100 more feet he would have pulled out of it." FAA inspectors reported no mechanical irregularities were found and control continuity was verified.

History of flight

On May 15, 2001, about 2035 central daylight time, a Bellanca 14-13-3, N6522N, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain and post impact fire following a low level maneuver near Scott City Municipal Airport (TQK), near Scott City, Kansas. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originated from TQK at time unknown.

A witness stated, "[Another witness] and I were at the airport. We helped [the pilot] get his airplane out of the west hanger. He said he was going to fly around the patch. He stated he would do a roll on final approach to runway 17. We watched him take off and flew around the pattern. On final approach he started to roll the plane. He rolled it about 3/4 the way around and then was diving toward the ground and never could pull it up. We saw a fire ball when it hit."

Another witness stated, "[The pilot] said he was going to do roll on final. Did most of roll on final and droped nose and went down."

An additional witness stated, "If he would have had 75 - 100 more feet he would have pulled out of it."

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating. He held a flight instructors certificate. He held a Second Class Medical Certificate. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated the pilot had 3,352 hours of total flight time, 10 hours in the last 90 days, and 13 hours in the make and model airplane.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Bellanca 14-13-3, manufactured in 1949, serial number 1643. Logbook entries indicated the airplane's annual inspection was completed September 2, 2000. The airplane accumulated 2,680.23 hours total time at the time of that inspection.

Meteorological information

At 2054, the Garden City Regional Airport weather was: Wind 070 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 26 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 29.77 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

A FAA supplied sketch showed the airplane impacted terrain approximately one half mile north of runway 17 at TQK. FAA supplied photographs show the airplane's fuselage and empennage covering was consumed by fire. The airplane came to rest inverted.

FAA inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the wreckage. No mechanical irregularities were found and control continuity was verified.

Medical and pathological information

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the District Coroner for the 23rd Judicial District of Kansas on May 16, 2001.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative.

Fire

A post impact fire occurred. A witness stated, "We saw a fire ball when it hit."

Additional information

The FAA was a party to the investigation.