# NTSB MIA04LA015: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5519K, Ocala, FL, October 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2003, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Ocala, FL - Coordinates: 29.166666, -82.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1667&lon=-82.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - 15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA015 ## Probable cause The failure of the dual student to maintain airspeed (VS) and the CFI's improper supervision while turning to reverse direction resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin and collision with trees and the ground during the resultant uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, dual student (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was instructing the student in a maneuver that called for a return to the departing runway after an engine failure. The CFI stated that he closed the throttle on the student as they crossed the departure end of runway 36, about 700 feet above the ground. The student started a left hand turn back to the runway at a bank angle of about 60 degrees, in order to make the runway. At some point during the turn the student applied an excessive rudder input, stalling and causing the aircraft to enter a spin. The CFI took the controls and recovered the airplane. During the recovery, the airplane struck an 8-inch diameter oak tree. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that there was insufficient distance for the airplane to clear the oak tree grove from the altitude at which the CFI recovered. The aircraft struck the tree in a climbing attitude causing the fuselage to break and bend the left landing gear. The airplane rotated counterclockwise as it fell tail first through the remaining trees before impacting the ground tail first, which it then fell over coming to rest on its back. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2003, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N5519K, registered to and operated by Rocky Top Aero Inc., impacted a tree while on approach to the Leeward Air Ranch, Ocala, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The commercial-rated pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI) reported minor injuries and the private-rated pilot/student reported no injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight had originated about 20 minutes earlier from the same airport. The CFI stated that he was instructing the student in a maneuver that called for a return to the departing runway after an engine failure. The CFI stated that he closed the throttle on the student as they crossed the departure end of runway 36, about 700 feet above the ground. The student started a left hand turn back to the runway at a bank angle of about 60 degrees, in order to make the runway. At some point during the turn the student applied an excessive rudder input, stalling and causing the aircraft to enter a spin. The CFI took the controls and recovered the airplane. During the recovery, the airplane struck an 8-inch diameter oak tree. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that there was insufficient distance for the airplane to clear the oak tree grove from the altitude at which the CFI recovered. The aircraft struck the tree in a climbing attitude causing the fuselage to break and bend the left landing gear. The airplane rotated counterclockwise as it fell tail first through the remaining trees before impacting the ground tail first, which it then fell over coming to rest on its back. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5519K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5519K-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N 384-78, built 1978 (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: 384-78 - Airframe hours: 75 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO 320 E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rocky Top Aero Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 2003, 75 hours before - Departed: FD04, OCALA/BELLEVIEW, FL - Destination: Ocala, FL - Airport: FD04, Leeward Airranch, runway 36, 6,250 × 175 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 17, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 30,804 total, 1,000 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,800 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: FD04 ## 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 20031030037549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031030037549A), Oct 30, 2003: Bbavia 8KCAB, Ocala/Belleview, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pic/instructor stated that he was instructing another pilot, alvaro saldarriaga in a manuever that called for a return to the departing runway after… 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.