# NTSB IAD97LA012: Bellanca 8KCAB, N2571Z, Sheffield, MA, October 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 1996, 17:24 local (21:24 UTC) - Place: Sheffield, MA - Location: 42.1104° N, 73.3551° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sheffield, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1104&lon=-73.3551&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28156/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's abrupt control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and subsequent in-flight collision with water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - abrupt, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis A pilot had flown the airplane on a local flight and stated that he had no mechanical problems with the airframe or engine. A second pilot, a certificated commercial pilot, then got into the airplane for a flight. The first pilot observed the airplane takeoff to the north, then level off before he lost sight of it. Witnesses observed the airplane bank left and right, followed by the airplane rolling upside down. When the airplane reached the inverted position, it began a gradual descent, followed by a near vertical descent, and impacted in a river in nose down attitude. The second pilot stated that he had banked to the left to depart the traffic pattern. He stated that he thought he observed another airplane in close proximity, and banked back to the right. The pilot felt the airplane shudder and recalled being inverted, but could not recall anything after that point. The second pilot stated he thought that the airplane had stalled. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 1996, approximately 1724, eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N2571Z, was destroyed when it impacted in a river near Sheffield, Massachusetts, while maneuvering after takeoff from the North Canaan Airport, North Canaan, Connecticut. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A pilot had just flown the airplane, and stated that he had no problems with the airplane during his flight. After landing at North Canaan Airport, the airplane was met by a second pilot. The pilots talked and then the second pilot climbed into the airplane. The first pilot stated that he watched the second pilot takeoff in a northerly direction, approximately 1722. He observed the airplane in a left bank, then level off as it went out of his view. Other witnesses stated that they noticed the airplane tip each wing, one after the other, and then the airplane rolled upside down. One witness thought it was going to do a 360 degree roll, but once it got past the 180 degree (inverted) position, it started to descend. The airplane descended gradually at first, then it appeared to go straight down. All witnesses stated that they did not see the airplane impact the ground because of heavy brush and trees obstructing their view. Examination of the wreckage by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed no mechanical problems with the airframe or engine. In a telephone interview with the FAA Inspector, the second pilot stated that he had made a steep bank to the left in order to depart the traffic pattern. Thinking that he caught sight of another airplane in close vicinity, the second pilot made an abrupt turn back to the right. The pilot stated that he felt the airplane shudder, and remembered the airplane being inverted, but could not recall anything after that point. The second pilot thought the airplane had stalled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2571Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2571Z-1999-03-13), registration cancelled 1999-03-13, S/N 347-77, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 347-77 - Airframe hours: 2134 - Engines: Lycoming AE IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley J. Segalla - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1996, 101 hours before - Departed: CT24, NORTH CANAAN, CT - Airport: CT24, North Canaan, runway 36, 3,100 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 543 total, 180 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 203 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BAF, 29 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19961025033819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961025033819A), Oct 25, 1996: Bbavia 8KCAB, North Canaan, CT, Destroyed. On climbout beleived saw traffic. Abrupt evasive manuever. Stalled rolled over and crashed. No traffic in area. 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.