NYC00LA075

NTSB accident investigation · Bellanca 7ECA · Kennedyville, MD · April 11, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 11, 2000, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Kennedyville, MD
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N88466Bellanca 7ECA
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 29, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
48935

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane while turning final.

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.

Loss of control - in flightApproach
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The pilot over flew the airport perpendicular to the runway, and then made a left turn to enter the traffic pattern. He turned base, and then final. During the turn to final, he increased the angle of bank to line the airplane up with the runway, and to remain clear powerlines running parallel to the runway. During the turn, the airplane started a 'slight buffet,' and full power was 'immediately applied.' The flight controls softened, and the pilot sensed an approaching stall so he neutralized the controls. The airplane impacted a plowed field about 100 feet short of the runway.

Factual narrative

On April 11, 2000, about 1800 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N88466, was substantially damage while landing at the Krastel Farms Airport, Kennedyville, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a witness, the airplane flew down the runway about 500 feet agl, then turned downwind for what appeared to be a "normal landing." The witness watched the airplane turn base and then final. Once on final, the witness thought the airplane was going "too slow." At roughly the same time, the airplane stalled. With the engine running, the airplane impacted a plowed field approximately 100 feet short of the runway.

According to the pilot, he over flew the airport perpendicular to the runway, and then made a left turn to enter the traffic pattern. He turned base, and then final. During the turn to final, the pilot increased the angle of bank to line the airplane up with the runway, and to remain clear of some powerlines that ran parallel to it. During the turn, the airplane started a "slight buffet," and full power was "immediately applied." The flight controls softened, and the pilot sensed an approaching stall so he neutralized the controls. The pilot added that the airplane was full of fuel.

Aircraft

Registration
N88466
Reported as
Bellanca 7ECA
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1068-75
Airframe hours
1,380
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 lbs thrust, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Fort Meade Flying Activity
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · March 20, 2000 · 31 hours before
Departed
ANP · Annapolis, MD
Destination
1MD3
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
1MD3 · Krastel Farms, runway 21, 1,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
19
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
202 total · 75 in this make and model · 145 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
9,000 ft overcast
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BWI, 38 nm away