# NTSB LAX84FA258: Bellanca 7AC, N85034, Skull Valley, AZ, April 16, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1984, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Skull Valley, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.57928, -112.769615 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5793&lon=-112.7696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23950
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA258
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23950/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA258

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ON SEVERAL LOCAL FLTS, EARLIER THAT DAY. THE LAST KNOWN FLT ORIGINATED AT THE ERNEST J LOVE ARPT, PRESCOTT, AZ, AT 1600 MST. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 02 AT THE QUARTER CIRCLE 'J' ARPT, WHICH WAS IN THE LOCAL AREA AT SKULL VALLEY, AZ. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERITCLE, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AFT PART OF THE EMPENNAGE WAS BENT & TWISTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PROP BLADES HAD NUMEROUS CHORDWISE SCUFFING & 'S' TWISTING SIGNATURES. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. RWY 2 HAS A 2% UPHILL GRADIENT & HIGH TERRAIN IS LOCATED NORTH OF THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85034](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85034-2012-11-13), registration cancelled 2012-11-13, S/N 7AC-3759, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7QC8759
- Airframe hours: 2466
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Adam S. Jones
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1983, 19 hours before
- Departed: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ
- Airport: 28E, Quarter Circle J, runway 2, 2,900 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 260 total, 19 in this make and model, 188 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRC, 15 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 19840416013699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840416013699A), Apr 16, 1984: Bbavia 7AC, Skull Valley, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wreckage indicates near vertical impact such as from a stall off departure end of runway as during a go around.

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.

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