CHI99LA344

The aircraft was destroyed when it impacted the terrain. Two witnesses to the accident stated that the aircraft was performing aerobatic maneuvers and then did a fly by. One witness stated that the aircraft then pulled up and performed a roll. The other witness stated that the aircraft pulled up and started a left turn. Both witnesses described seeing the aircraft descending '... out of control.' Both witnesses also stated that the engine sounded as if it was producing power prior to the accident. An on scene examination failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies with respect to the airplane. The pilot and passenger were not wearing parachutes during the flight.

History of flight

On September 19, 1999, at 1800 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N5532K, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Atlanta, Kansas. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured and the one passenger was seriously injured. The local flight originated at a private airstrip near Atlanta, Kansas, about 15 minutes prior to the accident.

In a written statement, the aircraft owner, who was a witness to the accident, stated that the airplane "... departed to the south and climbed to altitude at which time..." the pilot "... performed a loop, immelman, a couple of hammerhead stalls and a couple of rolls and returned to the airport." The witness said that the airplane then "... approached from the north in what I call a crop duster pass at the end of the strip, he pulled the airplane up approximately 20 [degrees] to 25 [degrees] pitch and started a turn to the left." The witness stated that he then saw the airplane "... in a left wing low attitude and descending ... and then realized the aircraft was basically out of control." The witness also stated that the engine sounded as if it was producing power.

Another witness to the accident stated that he saw the aircraft doing aerobatic maneuvers and then a fly by from northeast to southwest at approximately 100 feet. The witness stated that, following the fly by, the aircraft "...pulled up and did a roll. He went [through] the roll and back upright but it appear[ed] to have snaped [through] the roll to the left more and I saw the plane was out of control." The witness also stated that the engine sounded as if it was producing power prior to impact.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator, neither the pilot nor rear seat passenger were wearing parachutes.

Personnel information

The pilot in command was born on February 3, 1946. He held a commercial pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. The pilot was issued a second class medical certificate on May 16, 1999. According to a report submitted by the aircraft owner, the pilot had accumulated approximately 9,000 hours of flight time.

The rear seat passenger held a private pilot certificate issued on August 15, 1999.

Aircraft information

The aircraft is a Bellanca model 8KCAB, N5532K, serial number 389-78, manufactured in 1978. A Lycoming model AEIO-360 series engine producing 180 horsepower powered the aircraft. The most recent annual inspection was conducted on April 28, 1999, at a tachometer time of 1,187 hours. The aircraft had accumulated a total of 1,204 hours at the time of the accident.

Meteorological information

The Winfield, Kansas weather reporting station, KWLD, located 21 miles and 220 degrees magnetic from the accident site, was reporting scattered clouds, 10 miles visibility, wind from 110 degrees magnetic at 7 knots, temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit, a dew point of 39 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury. The weather report was issued approximately 6 minutes prior to the accident.

There is no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing prior to the accident flight.

Wreckage and impact information

An on scene examination of the wreckage was conducted by representatives of the FAA. The aircraft impacted the ground in a farm field approximately 0.5 miles southeast of the pilot's private airstrip. The fuselage was oriented in a northwest direction. Both wings, the engine, and the landing gear were broken loose from the fuselage. According to a statement by a witness, the right wing had been moved to gain access to the cockpit. The FAA inspectors found no anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition and the aircraft owner listed no mechanical malfunction in his written report.

Medical and pathological information

The Sedgwick County, Kansas Regional Forensic Science Center in Wichita, Kansas performed a post mortem examination of the pilot, on September 22, 1999. The cause of death was stated in the report as "...multiple injuries..." sustained in the accident.

A toxicological examination of specimens from the pilot revealed no evidence of drugs, cyanide, ethanol or carbon monoxide present in the specimens tested.

Additional information

The Federal Aviation Administration, Flight Standards District Office, Wichita, Kansas was a party to the investigation.