- Date
- June 23, 1996, 20:45 local (Jun 24, 1996, 02:45 UTC)
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N227ERAmerican AG5B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 16, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960624014879A
- Case key
- 19878
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inadvertent stall spin. Factors were the pilot's intentional maneuver at an altitude insufficient to ensure a safe recovery, and overconfidence in his personal ability.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the passenger, the pilot said the 'impossible turn' was not impossible and that he would demonstrate. The pilot pulled back the throttle and made a 20 degree left bank without lowering the nose. The airplane stalled and 'porpoised' to the ground. According to the pilot, at an altitude between 700 and 900 feet agl, he reduced power 'a few hundred' rpm to simulate a power loss, and lowered the nose. The stall warning sounded and the airplane entered a right spin. The pilot was able to recover, but the airplane entered a left spin. The pilot was again able to stop the spin, but the airplane 'wobbled' and collided with terrain.
Factual narrative
On June 23, 1996, at 2045 mountain daylight time, an American General AG5B, N227ER, was destroyed while maneuvering at Longmont, Colorado. The private pilot and student pilot rated-passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. The pilot said he departed on runway 29 and climbed at 85 kias (knots indicated airspeed), then lowered the nose and continued climbing at 65 kias. At 700 feet agl (above ground level), he reduced engine power by "a few hundred" rpm to simulate a partial power loss and lowered the nose. The stall warning sounded and he lowered the nose further and "possibly" increased power. The airplane entered a right spin and the pilot was able to recover at an estimated altitude between 200 and 300 feet agl. The airplane immediately entered a left spin. The pilot was again able to stop the spin, then the airplane collided with terrain.
According to the student pilot-rated passenger, the pilot told him the "impossible turn" was not impossible and that he would demonstrate. As the airplane climbed through 700 feet agl, the pilot pulled back the throttle and made a 20 degree left bank without lowering the nose. The airplane stalled and "porpoised" to the ground.
Numerous ground witnesses reported seeing the airplane spinning before impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N227ER
- Reported as
- American AG5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10114
- Airframe hours
- 1,160
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frederick S. Dunlap
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 20, 1996 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- 2V2
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 230 in this make and model · 35 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 19 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.