Bellanca 7KCAB N8509

Summary

On 18 September 1997 at about 23:20 local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB registered N8509 was involved in an accident near Oakridge, Oregon, 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

18 September 1997 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Oakridge, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.7397, -122.4103

Aircraft

Bellanca 7KCAB

Registration

N8509

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eugene → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA212

2 people died.

The first pilot's decision to perform a low altitude maneuver, and his subsequent failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees during a low altitude maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The first pilot (commercial pilot and CFI) invited the second pilot (private pilot) to fly with him on a personal flight in a tandem-seated aerobatic airplane. The first pilot sat in the rear seat behind the second pilot. During the flight, the airplane was observed to fly about 10 feet above a lake. The airplane was then observed to begin a climb over a dam and perform a barrel roll about 100 feet above the dam. During the maneuver, the airplane descended into tall trees that were located on a hillside near the lower, dry section of the dam. The engine was operating under power at the time of impact. An examination of the wreckage and the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. An investigation revealed that the first pilot had a recent history of performing low altitude aerobatic maneuvers. He also had a recent history of performing the maneuvers himself when he took passengers or other pilots with him. No evidence was found in the autopsies to indicate that anyone other than the first pilot was manipulating the controls at impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.