# NTSB LAX99LA143: Bellanca 7KCAB, N88212, North Las Vegas, NV, April 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1999, 16:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.209205, -115.119865 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2092&lon=-115.1199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46089/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA143 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that all loose items inside the cockpit were secure before attempting aerobatic maneuvers. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - misc eqpt/furnishings - loose (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - jammed (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis In the pilot's written statement he said he climbed to 6,000 feet msl to practice aerobatic maneuvers and entered a left upright spin. After two turns, he initiated a forward movement of the stick to recover and found that the stick was jammed in the full aft position. He looked in the rear seat area and discovered that the rear seat back frame had fallen forward, looped over the stick, and was holding it in place. Following unsuccessful attempts to reach the seat back and recover, the pilot abandoned the airplane and parachuted to the ground. According to the pilot, the aircraft continued in the spin until ground impact. Additionally, the pilot said that a safety cable is supposed to hold the rear seat back frame upright during maneuvers to prevent the back from interfering with the rear control stick. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he observed that the safety cable was present. After the accident, a flight instructor told the pilot that the cable had been reportedly disconnected from its attach point by maintenance personnel to facilitate access to the aircraft battery and the ELT area behind the rear seat. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 1999, at 1650 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N88212, was destroyed during a collision with the ground during practice aerobatic maneuvers near North Las Vegas, Nevada. The private pilot, the sole occupant, parachuted to safety and sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated by North Las Vegas Flying Club and was rented by the pilot for the local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The flight originated from the North Las Vegas airport at 1630. In the pilot's written statement he said he climbed to 6,000 feet msl and entered a left upright spin. After two turns, he initiated a forward movement of the stick to recover and found that the stick was jammed in the full aft position. He looked in the rear seat area and discovered that the rear seat back frame had fallen forward, looped over the stick, and was holding it in place. Following unsuccessful attempts to reach the seat back and recover from the spin, the pilot abandoned the airplane and parachuted to the ground. According to the pilot, the aircraft continued in the spin until ground impact. Additionally, the pilot said that a safety cable is supposed to hold the rear seat back frame upright during maneuvers to prevent the back from interfering with the rear control stick. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he observed that the safety cable was present. After the accident, a flight instructor told the pilot that the cable had been reportedly disconnected from its attach point by maintenance personnel to facilitate access to the aircraft battery and the ELT area behind the rear seat. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88212](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88212-1999-12-14), registration cancelled 1999-12-14, S/N 475-74 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 475-74 - Airframe hours: 2975 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: North Las Vegas Flying Club - Registered owner: Joseph R. Maridon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 16, 1998, 54 hours before - Departed: VGT - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 260 total, 40 in this make and model, 228 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VGT, 12 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 19990410003439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990410003439A), Apr 10, 1999: Bbavia 7KCAB, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed. Pilot was practicing aerobatic maneuvers and the acft was in a spin when the controls locked up, the pilot was unable to recover the acft and bailed out, the… ## Other investigations on N88212 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX92LA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA320), Jul 28, 1992: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88212), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE STUDENTS EXCESSIVE USE OF THE RUDDER CONTROLS, AND, THE INSTRUCTORS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT. 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.