Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 8KCAB near Larchwood, IA — 2023-05-29

Final reportCEN23LA205
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Date
2023-05-29
Location
Larchwood, IA, USA
Airport
2VA
Aircraft
BELLANCA 8KCAB
Registration
N5038E
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground.

NTSB narrative

The passenger stated they were taking off from a paved taxiway at a private airstrip when the airplane pitched up higher than normal and stalled. He recalled that the pilot told him that they were stalling. The airplane descended and impacted the terrain adjacent to the taxiway. Impact signatures were consistent with a low-energy impact indicative of an aerodynamic stall. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the airframe, fuel, system, flight controls, or engine that would have resulted in the loss of control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff when experiencing unusual climb behavior.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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