# NTSB MIA85FA150: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5054Y, Clearwater, FL, April 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1985, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Location: 27.9794° N, 82.7713° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clearwater, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9794&lon=-82.7713&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31240/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA150

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft performance - exceeded (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED DOING LOW LEVEL AEROBATICS. WHILE DIVING INVERTED OVER THE WATER, HE ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN OUTSIDE LOOP. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER INVERTED AFTER THE STALL ONSET. INTERVIEWS WITH FELLOW PILOTS DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN RECENTLY BRAGGING ABOUT A NEW AEROBATIC MANEUVER, WHERE HE PULLED MINUS 4 GS WITHIN 10 FT OF THE WATER. NO PARACHUTES WERE FOUND ON BOARD THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5054Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 537-79
- Airframe hours: 7501
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Suncoast Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 1985, 238 hours before
- Departed: CLW

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,560 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,360 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 14 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 19850419013499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850419013499A), Apr 19, 1985: Bbavia 7KCAB, Clearwater, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot was attempting an outside loop following snap rolls at low altitude. Aircraft mushed into water inverted.

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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