UNREG

Destroyed
None

Golden Circle Air T-Bird

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, May 21, 2002
NTSB Number
FTW02LA157
Location
Newellton, LA
Event ID
20020524X00732
Coordinates
32.095832, -91.373886
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane resulting in an inadvertant spin.

Aircraft Information

Registration
UNREG
Make
GOLDEN CIRCLE AIR
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
T-BirdF30
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

On May 20, 2002, approximately 1930 central daylight time, a Golden Circle Air T-Bird, unregistered airplane, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Newellton, Louisiana. The non-certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Newellton at 1910.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that while flying at an altitude of approximately 400 to 500 feet agl, he was demonstrating stalls to his passenger. After demonstrating several power on stalls, he performed a power off stall. He then performed another power off stall; however, this time the left wing dropped and the airplane started to spin. When recovery from the spin was unsuccessful, the pilot released control "so the aircraft could recover on its own." However, the airplane continued in a spin to the left, impacting an open field in a left wing down, nose low attitude, destroying the airplane. The pilot added "that as far as I knew the airplane was spin resistant."

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW02LA157