Private Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Merrimac, Wisconsin 53561
Sunday, May 1, 1988 14:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP AND IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK TURN TO THE LEFT AT LOW ALTITUDE. A WITNESS, WHO WAS AN EXPERIENCED AEROBATIC PILOT, ESTIMATED THE ANGLE OF BANK TO APPROACH 90 DEGREES. THE NOSE WAS SEEN TO PITCH DOWN, AND THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE. IMPACT WAS IN A FARMER'S FIELD ONE-QUARTER MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MERRIMAC
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53561
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE STRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 850
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1400 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID MSN
Elevation of weather observation facility 862
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1897
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38144
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N31288
NTSB Number CHI88FA102
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 889-73
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Jan 15 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 2913
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WATERLOO FLYING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address N8446 CTY HWY O
Aircraft Owner City WATERLOO
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53594
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WATERLOO FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address N 8446 COUNTY HWY O
Operator City WATERLOO
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53594
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C29
Destination City MIDDLETON
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --