Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sutcliffe, Nevada 89431
Saturday, May 14, 1988 11:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO EXECUTE SEVERAL LOW PASSES OVER WITNESSES ALONG THE SHORELINE OF A LAKE. DURING ONE OF THE PASSES AND WHILE TRACKING NORTHWEST, THE PILOT DROPPED A PACKAGE OF LIFE PRESERVERS FROM AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 75 FEET AGL AND WHILE FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE PILOT EXECUTED A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND DESCENT TO GROUND IMPACT FOLLOWED. THE WITNESS REPORTED WINDS OF 7-10 MPH OUT OF THE WEST AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED NORTHERLY WINDS AT 15-20 MPH AND GUSTING. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 5500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT'S FLT TIME WAS OBTAINED FROM HIS FAA MEDICAL RECORDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SUTCLIFFE
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89431
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
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 192
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4412
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 605
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 14 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36473
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57415
NTSB Number SEA88LA094
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7GCAA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7GCAA
Aircraft Serial Number 261-73
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Oct 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID M. SCOLARI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3455 WARPAINT CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City RENO
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89506
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 336 SMITH RIDGE
Operator City RENO
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89502
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4SD
Departure City RENO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Descent
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --