- Date
- July 4, 1989, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place
- Broken Bow, NE
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8636VBellanca 8KCAB
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890704019439A
- Case key
- 34689
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
Improper planning/decision by the pilot by performing acrobatic flight with baggage in the rear cockpit of the aircraft, which probably restricted movement of the flight controls and resulted in uncontrolled flight and a spin.
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
Before takeoff, someone asked the plt to perform a roll. During departure, the acft proceeded outbound about 3 mi, then was turned back toward the arpt. A roll was performed, but soon thereafter, the acft entered a dscnt & began spinning. Witnesses rprtd the acft made about 2 turns of a spin before disappearing from their view. Subsequently, it impacted in a steep descent & was extensively damaged. An investigation revealed that 2 back packs, a bag of clothing & a folding chair had been stowed in the rear seat as baggage. The pilot handbook stated that 'baggage is not allowed during acrobatic flight.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8636V
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 186-75
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David A. Whistler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 8, 1989
- Destination
- APA · Denver, CO
- Airport
- BBW · Broken Bow
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
- 50
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BBW, 1 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.