Belcher William B Ii FIRESTAR N43341

Summary

On 6 February 2011 at about 22:45 local time, a Belcher William B Ii FIRESTAR registered N43341, operated by Belcher William B II, was involved in an accident near West Blocton, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 2011 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

West Blocton, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.1361, -87.1228

Aircraft

Belcher William B Ii FIRESTAR

Registration

N43341

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Belcher William B II

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Blockon → West Blocton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA135

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses stated that they observed the airplane make a low pass down a private runway. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the airplane started a steep climb, estimated to be 45 degrees or greater, at a slow airspeed. The right wing then dropped, the airplane stalled, entered a spin, and disappeared from view behind a tree line. The witnesses stated the engine was running until the airplane disappeared from view. The student pilot stated that he was on climbout, made a right turn and leveled out when the right wing dropped and the airplane entered a spin before colliding with trees. A postaccident examination of the airframe and flight controls revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction prior to the accident. A successful engine testrun was subsequently conducted. Toxicology testing of postaccident specimens from the student pilot revealed that Methadone and Nordiazepam were present in the blood. The student pilot stated he had been taking Methadone at the time of the accident for back pain. While the investigation considered that the student pilot may have been impaired by the medication or by the condition for which it had been prescribed, the role of any possible impairment in the accident could not be conclusively determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.