- Date
- October 21, 2020, 14:32 local (20:32 UTC)
- Place
- Rock Springs, WY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7654SBellanca 8KCAB
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Case key
- 102192
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The separation of the control grip which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during takeoff, and collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during takeoff, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and that his aileron control input did not respond. The pilot further stated that his control column grip separated and caused his right hand to become jammed between the column and the lower side of the instrument panel. The airplane nosed down when the grip came off completely. The right wing and right-side fuselage were substantially damaged.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7654S
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 250-76
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 1,700
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert Jean Otey
- Registered owner
- Two Friends Aero Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 2, 2020
- Airport
- KRKS · Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device
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
- 64
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- October 13, 2020
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 600 in this make and model · 1,500 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 30 days · 3.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 29 knots, gusting 41
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- RKS
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.5 MB in all.