- Date
- December 25, 1991, 15:07 local (23:07 UTC)
- Place
- Happy Camp, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1679GBellanca 7KCAB
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911225057159A
- Case key
- 27522
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
The excessive nature of the maneuvers attempted by the pilot at a low altitude during the takeoff initial climb, the failure of the pilot to maintain proper pitch attitude and airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall, and inadequate altitude to perfrom necessary remedial actions to prevent a collision with the terrain.
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 pilot witnesses located on the ground at the airport, the airplane lifted off in the first 1/3 of the runway during the takeoff sequence. At an altitude of about 200 feet, the airplane turned 90 degrees with a 90 degree angle of bank. The airplane made a second 90 degree turn to a downwind with a 90 degree angle of bank at an altitude of 300 feet. The witnesses stated that '...during the turn the aircraft stalled, yawed to the right and then left before it hit the ground.' The witnesses said the engine was 'running fine' during the entire accident sequence until ground impact. No preimpact malfunctions of the flight control system were identified by FAA inspectors.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1679G
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 142
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Sunshine Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Auburn Wings
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- T99 · Montague, CA
- Airport
- 36S · Happy Camp, runway 4, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 55
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,744 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1679G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.