Bellanca 7GCBC N5542K

Summary

On 5 March 2012 at about 22:56 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N5542K, operated by Steppler James M, was involved in an accident near Brockton, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

5 March 2012 at 22:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Brockton, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Sidney (SDY)

Coordinates

47.9897, -104.7183

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N5542K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Steppler James M

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sidney → Sidney

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12FA123

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the airplane made two low altitude 360 degree turns then ascended rapidly followed by a descent into the ground characteristic of a stall. The airplane “belly flopped” onto the edge of an elevated drive likely due  to insufficient altitude for the pilot to recover. The witnesses further reported that the engine sounded normal throughout the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of  mechanical malfunctions or failures  that would have precluded normal operation. A GPS receiver was recovered from the accident; however, no data was recovered for the accident flight. Previous flight paths revealed flight maneuvers at low altitudes similar to the one described during the accident sequence.        

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.