Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mattawamkeag, Maine 04459
Wednesday, September 15, 1993 12:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING THE LOCAL CHIEF OF POLICE AROUND THE AREA AT ABOUT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND TO SEARCH FOR MARIJUANA PLANTS. THE PILOT INITIATED A STEEP BANK TURN TO THE RIGHT TO REVERSE DIRECTION AFTER COMPLETING A LOW PASS. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE AERODYNAMICALLY STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE LOSS OF LIFT WAS DUE TO A GUST AND DID NOT TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION IN TIME TO RECOVER FORM THE STALL. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

1) THE PILOT'S INITIATION OF AN EXCESSIVE MANEUVER (STEEP BANK TURN) AT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL, AND 2) THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECOGNITION OF THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY, CAUSING A DELAY IN PERFORMING REMEDIAL ACTION TO RECOVER FROM THE AERODYNAMIC STALL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MATTAWAMKEAG
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04459
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID BGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1245
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11689
NTSB Number BFO93LA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 354-72
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAY R. MCLAUGHLIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address HCR 65, BOX 949
Aircraft Owner City LINCOLN CENTER
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04458
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAY R. MCLAUGHLIN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address HCR 65, BOX 949
Operator City LINCOLN CENTER
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04458
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MEDWAY
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
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 --