John H. Batten Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Racine, Wisconsin 53404
Saturday, June 29, 1996 12:56 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was part of an airshow act depicting a 'student pilot' flying the airplane without a flight instructor. A video tape of the airplane's flight showed it flying level at 100 feet above the ground. The airplane pitched up about 5 degrees and then pitched down as it began a left turn. The bank angle increased to about 90 degrees and the airplane pitched down to about 30 degrees below level flight at the 90 degree point in its turn. The airplane continued to pitch down until it collided with the ground. The video tape showed the airplane's rudder moving left and right during its descent. The aileron control position was for a right bank and the elevator was in the up position for the last half of the flight. The on-scene investigation revealed no anomalies with the airplane's flight control system or engine that would prevent flight. Surface winds were reported at 15 to 20 knots with gusts to 28 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

was improper remdial action by the pilot after encountering a stall when the elevator back pressure was not removed and the ailerons were positioned for a right bank by that increasing the airplane's left yaw/roll action. Factors in this accident were a stall encountered by the pilot, high winds, and gusting wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1256
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RACINE
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53404
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JOHN H. BATTEN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RAC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 674
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 720
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 992
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N77563
NTSB Number CHI96LA222
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C-90
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-90
Aircraft Serial Number 22058
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 27 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 771
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVE C. ALCORN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2504 1/2 CLIFTON
Aircraft Owner City URBANA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RAC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code RAC
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --