Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fulton, Kentucky 42041
Thursday, June 14, 2001 19:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was giving rides to some guests at his residence. He completed two trips without incident. However, on the third flight, after takeoff, and about a mile from the runway, he initiated a turn to the left. The angle of bank continued to increase until the wings were nearly vertical, and the nose dropped below the horizon. The airplane disappeared from view behind a tree line, as it was descending nose-down and turning to the left. Impact damage on the leading edges of both wings was consistent with a left rotation at impact. Fuel was found in the carburetor, and the metal leading edges of both wooden propeller blades were bent rearward. No evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction was found. The pilot was seated in the rear seat. All flight and engine instrument were located in front of the front seat occupant only.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A factor was the pilot's decision to fly from the rear seat, which reduced his visibility of critical flight instruments, including the airspeed indicator.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Fulton
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 42041
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363051N
Event Location Longitude 0884317W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1856 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID PAH
Elevation of weather observation facility 410
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 33
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) 2500
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11526
NTSB Notification Source Southern Region Ops Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville, Kentucky

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82562
NTSB Number NYC01FA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7DC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-1199
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 Jul 12 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14.01
Airframe Hours 3580.91
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James A. Lowry
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fulton
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 42041
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Fulton
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1915
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Fulton
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 21 2002 11:58AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --