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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 5, 1988 · Bellanca 8KCAB · N5508H

Alpine, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Alpine, CA
Aircraft
Bellanca 8KCAB
Tail Number
N5508H
Operator
William P Oglesby Iii
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89LA009

During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had just recovered from a one turn spin and was in level flight when he felt the airplane pitch up. He added a small amount of nose down trim and the airplane pitched down. He stated that at this point 'things did not feel right'. He pulled back on the stick and it did not move well, nor would it control the airplane. After trying to determine the reason for the problem and an attempt to turn towards a possible landing area, the pilot decided to egress from the airplane. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the terrain. An examination of the wreckage was conducted by FAA inspectors at the scene of the accident. Most of the wreckage was destroyed by impact, however those control mechanisms that were not destroyed were found to be in working order. The control stick was broken at the attach point, however an examination revealed that the stick was broken during impact.

Full Narrative

DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST RECOVERED FROM A ONE TURN SPIN AND WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN HE FELT THE AIRPLANE PITCH UP. HE ADDED A SMALL AMOUNT OF NOSE DOWN TRIM AND THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN. HE STATED THAT AT THIS POINT 'THINGS DID NOT FEEL RIGHT'. HE PULLED BACK ON THE STICK AND IT DID NOT MOVE WELL, NOR WOULD IT CONTROL THE AIRPLANE. AFTER TRYING TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AND A ATTEMPT TO TURN TOWARDS A POSSIBLE LANDING AREA, THE PILOT DECIDED TO EGRESS FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONDUCTED BY FAA INSPECTORS AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. MOST OF THE WRECKAGE WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT, HOWEVER THOSE CONTROL MECHANISMS THAT WERE NOT DESTROYED WERE FOUND TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. THE CONTROL STICK WAS BROKEN AT THE ATTACH POINT, HOWEVER AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE STICK WAS BROKEN DURING IMPACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:42 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 8KCAB
Tail NumberN5508H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWilliam P Oglesby Iii
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · AEIO-360-H1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data