DEN93FA090

A turning maneuver progressed to inverted flight and the airplane entered a right spin about 1,000 feet above ground level. At about 100 feet above the terrain, the spin turns began to decrease. Both occupants were commercial pilots. It was not determined which was flying the airplane. The owner, who was in the rear seat, held an acrobatic endorsement.

History of flight

On July 28, 1993, at approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N5035K, impacted mountainous terrain following loss of conrol approximately 14 miles west of Elk Springs, Colorado. The commercial pilot and commercial pilot rated passenger received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.

The flight originated from a private airstrip one half mile east of the accident site about 15 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

The flight was video taped by a family member and the accident sequence was recorded. The ground witnesses could not see the impact due to terrain masking and the wreckage was not located until the next morning.

According to information provided on the video tape, the aircraft owner was occupying the rear seat, and the pilot-rated passenger was occupying the front seat. The tape showed the aircraft departing to the west from the private airstrip. The tape then depicted the aircraft in a left turning maneuver approximately one half mile off the end of the airstrip. The turning maneuver progressed to inverted flight. The aircraft then entered a right hand turn spin from approximately 1,000 feet above ground level. At approximately 100 feet above the horizon, the spin turns appeared to decrease and the aircraft disappeared from sight.

Personnel information

The owner was occupying the rear seat and held an acrobatic endorsement. No evidence was found that the pilot occupying the front seat had received any acrobatic training. Both stations had flight controls and it could not be determined which pilot was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Wreckage and impact information

The accident site was on the side of a hill approximately one half mile off the west end of the airstrip and approximately 200 feet higher than the end of the runway. The area was covered with cedar and small pine trees. The wreckage was contained in an area approximately 50 X 50 feet and all components were within that area with the wreckage oriented with the nose to the east.

Attached is a wreckage diagram and photographs of the wreckage. These depict the wreckage distribution and damage.

Tests and research

The Chicago, Illinois, FAA Aircraft Certification Office asked the Investigator In Charge to examine the wings. Examination provided no evidence of any spar deterioration.

Additional information

Toxicology results are attached and according to laboratory technicians, the substances found were due to post-accident events.

The wreckage was released to Mr. Dennis Jason, Jason and Associates. No parts were retained.