Fairfield Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairfield, Iowa 52556
Monday, April 26, 1982 17:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY DOWN THE RUNWAY TO HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER TAKE PICTURES TO BE USED IN PUBLICITY FOR AIRSHOWS. AFTER SEVERAL PASSES (ONE INVERTED), THE PILOT LANDED TO TALK WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER. THE PHOTOGRAPHER STATED THEY AGREED THAT A SLOW ROLL PROVIDED THE MOST POSSIBILITIES FOR A GOOD PICTURE. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND CIRCLED THE FIELD TO BEGIN THE PASS FROM THE SOUTH. REPORTEDLY, HE WAS TO START THE MANEUVER FROM ABOUT 100 FT. AFTER STARTING A SLOW ROLL, THE NOSE DROPPED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OF FAILURES OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE WERE FOUND. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE GUSTING TO 25 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FAIRFIELD
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52556
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FAIRFIELD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1700
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OTM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 68
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 608
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5035N
NTSB Number MKC82FCD07
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 8KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier 8KCAB
Aircraft Serial Number 470-79
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 104
Airframe Hours 763
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DON E. FRENCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 505 KINGMAN CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DON E. FRENCH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 505 KINGMAN CIRCLE
Operator City FAIRFIELD
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code FFL
Departure City FAIRFIELD
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1720
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FFL
Destination City FAIRFIELD
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --