# NTSB DEN93FA090: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5035K, Elk Springs, CO, July 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 1993, 19:30 local (Jul 29, 1993, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Elk Springs, CO - Coordinates: 40.339336, -108.429595 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3393&lon=-108.4296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93FA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11082/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93FA090 ## Probable cause THE PERFORMANCE OF A STALL/SPIN AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR RECOVERY AND LEVEL OFF. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall/spin - performed, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5035K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5035K-1994-03-24), registration cancelled 1994-03-24, S/N 46979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 469-79 - Airframe hours: 1377 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1A 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wiser, Beth A. & George R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 1991 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 720 total, 392 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F ## 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 19930728025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930728025969A), Jul 28, 1993: Bbavia 8KCAB, Elk Springs, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Steep turn rolled low altitude became inverted. Entered spin. Rollout began too late. Owner rear seat endorsed. 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.