Carpenter, WY, USA
N5502S
Champion 7GCBC
The pilot departed from a field and was climbing the airplane through about 100 to 200 ft above ground level. Witnesses stated, and surveillance video of the accident confirmed, that the airplane entered a left bank that increased to about 60° degrees as the airplane turned about 180°. The left bank continued to increase until the airplane entered a nose-down descent into the ground, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Both witnesses reported that the engine was operating throughout. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while turning during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery.
On September 7, 2019, about 1440 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5502S, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Carpenter, Wyoming. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed a rough, dry field with areas of vegetation. Two witnesses near the field stated that they heard the airplane’s engine operating, and one of the witnesses said that it appeared as if the airplane “did not have enough airspeed” and stalled. Surveillance video of the flight showed the airplane enter a left bank that increased to about 60° until the airplane entered a nose-down descent into the ground from an estimated altitude of 100 to 200 ft above ground level. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. The wing flaps were retracted. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller and valve and drive train continuity were established. There was evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. There were no mechanical anomalies of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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