Bellanca 7KCAB N1679G

Summary

On 25 December 1991 at about 23:07 local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB registered N1679G, operated by Sunshine Flyers, Inc., was involved in an accident near Happy Camp, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 December 1991 at 23:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Happy Camp, California, United States

Nearest airport

Happy Camp (36S)

Coordinates

41.7796, -123.4697

Aircraft

Bellanca 7KCAB

Registration

N1679G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sunshine Flyers, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Montague

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA070

2 people died.

THE EXCESSIVE NATURE OF THE MANEUVERS ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT AT A LOW ALTITUDE DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER PITCH ATTITUDE AND AIRSPEED TO AVOID AN AERODYNAMIC STALL, AND INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO PERFROM NECESSARY REMEDIAL ACTIONS TO PREVENT A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO PILOT WITNESSES LOCATED ON THE GROUND AT THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF IN THE FIRST 1/3 OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE. AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 200 FEET, THE AIRPLANE TURNED 90 DEGREES WITH A 90 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK. THE AIRPLANE MADE A SECOND 90 DEGREE TURN TO A DOWNWIND WITH A 90 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK AT AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT '...DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN LEFT BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND.' THE WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE WAS 'RUNNING FINE' DURING THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM WERE IDENTIFIED BY FAA INSPECTORS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.