FALLON, NV, USA
N66996
MICHAEL D. MANSFIELD KR-2
THE OWNER AND AN ACQUAINTANCE, BOTH COMMERICALLY RATED PILOTS, DEPARTED FALLON, NEVADA, ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT TO A NEARBY TOWN. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN MANEUVERS DESCRIBED AS STEEP TURNS AND SHARP DIVES A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. DURING THESE MANEUVERS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A STALL-SPIN CONDITION. THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE SPIN ENTRY PREVENTED A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. ALTHOUGH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH PILOTS IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHICH PILOT ( OR WHETHER BOTH) WAS CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE SPIN ENTRY. THE TYPE OF MANEUVERS AND THEIR DURATION WERE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE INDICATIVE OF A PILOT INCAPACITATION SCENARIO NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF A CONTROL DISCONTINUITY/MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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