- Date
- June 25, 1983, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, CT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2979TBellanca 8KCAB
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830625026749A
- Case key
- 35120
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The acft collided with the ground while performing aerobatic maneuvers during an airshow. Witnesses said it appeared that the pilot was having trouble staying in the assigned area for the maneuvers because of high winds. The winds were estimated at 20 KTS gusting to 25 KTS from 330 degrees. The acft was not only drifting with the wind but the pilot was allowing each maneuver to go lower and wider as later viewed on video. The last maneuver was a snap roll which appeared to be improperly executed resulting in a loss of altitude and impact with the ground/water. The acft cockpit area was submerged in water but the pilot was rescued. He succumbed to his injuries, however 4 days later.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2979T
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 641-80
- Airframe hours
- 213
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- James F. Suchman
- Registered owner
- Harold C. Pope
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 23, 1983 · 15 hours before
- Airport
- N04 · Griswold
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 400 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.