14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 05, 2012 in Brockton, MT
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/02/2013
Aircraft: BELLANCA 7GCBC, registration: N5542K
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
Witnesses reported that the airplane made two low-altitude, 360-degree turns and then ascended rapidly followed by a descent into the ground, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane “belly flopped” on the edge of an elevated drive likely because there was insufficient altitude for the pilot to recover from the stall. The witnesses further reported that the engine sounded normal throughout the accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A GPS receiver was recovered from the accident; however, no data was recovered for the accident flight. Data from previous flights revealed flight maneuvers at low altitudes similar to the one described by witnesses during the accident sequence.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On March 5, 2012, about 1556 mountain standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5542K, impacted terrain about 12 miles southeast of Brockton, Montana. The private pilot was fatally injured and the one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The pilot departed Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (SDY), Sidney, Montana at an unknown time.
Witnesses reported that it was a clear day with no wind; the airplane approached from the north and flew over them before conducting a 360 degree turn at a low altitude. The airplane flew over the witnesses a second time and appeared to depart to the west when it ascended and made a left turn followed by a descent into the ground. The airplane appeared to “belly flop” onto the edge of the elevated drive and came to rest on the other side of the drive. Witnesses further reported that the engine sounded normal throughout the accident sequence.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT
The wreckage was located in a field planted with trees in the yard of a residence. The first identified point of impact was an 8 by 13 foot crater located on the southern edge of an elevated east/west driveway. The debris path continued approximately 211 feet in length from the impact crater to the main wreckage.
A topped tree, approximately 100 feet northeast, followed the initial impact point. Approximately 50 feet beyond the topped tree was approximately 2 feet of the airplane’s left wing tip at the base of another tree. The airplane came to rest in thick dirt approximately 205 feet beyond the initial impact point; the airplane’s approximate heading was 240 degrees. The forward fuselage sustained extensive aft crushing and deformation throughout. The cabin area sustained side crushing. The inboard portion of the left wing remained attached to the fuselage. The left fuel tank and fuel cap were intact. The fuel cap was secured to the filler housing, although torn from the fabric around it. The right wing was partially attached to the fuselage; the wing root sustained crush damage. The right fuel tank cap was still secured to the filler housing. The aft fuselage was mostly intact although sustained lateral deformation. The empennage was mostly intact and undamaged; the left elevator outboard most section was bent upward.
Control continuity was established from all flight control surfaces to their respective cockpit controls.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The nearest weather reporting station was approximately 27 nautical miles southeast of the accident site. At 1535, the weather was reported as wind from 280 at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 16 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint -1 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.59 inches of Mercury.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
At the time of the accident, the pilot, age 54, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land privileges that was issued on January 17, 1981. His most recent FAA third class medical was issued on January 11, 2011, with the restriction of required corrective lenses for near and far. Examination of the pilot’s logbook revealed that, as of the last entry on December 20, 1992, he had accumulated approximately 72 hours of flight experience, 5 of which were in the accident airplane.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was not completed on the pilot; the cause of death was reported as blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing was completed by the Richland County Coroner. The results were negative for ethanol; caffeine was detected in the blood.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
The airplane was recovered from the accident site to a storage facility and later examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-charge (IIC).
Engine
Visual inspection of the recovered engine revealed no visual anomalies. The cylinder rocker covers and spark plugs were removed; the spark plug electrode areas were consistent with, ‘worn out – normal’, when compared to the Champion AV-27 chart. The valves were undamaged and contained no abnormal thermal discoloration. Cylinder compression and valve continuity was obtained from all cylinders. Both magnetos were removed from the engine; when manually rotated, both impulse couplings fired appropriately and spark was obtained from all ignition lead ends. The carburetor was removed from the engine and disassembled. Carburetor screen was clear of debris, no fuel was found within the carburetor bowl and crushing deformation was noted on one of the carburetor floats.
Airframe
Examination of the cabin area revealed that the throttle was in the full forward/full throttle position. The fuel selector valve was removed and examined; it was found in the “closed” position. The gascolator was removed and found to be clear of debris. It was noted that there was no stall warning system installed on the airplane.
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A GPS receiver was recovered in the wreckage and retained for further examination by the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC. Data was successfully downloaded; however, there was no data for the accident flight. Data recovered from previous flights revealed flight maneuvers at low altitudes similar to the one described during the accident sequence.
The NTSB IIC calculated the approximate weight and balance at the time of the accident. It was revealed that the airplane weighed approximately 1,834 pounds with a center of gravity of 16.38 inches. Maximum gross weight of the airplane is 1,650 pounds, and the Center of gravity range for normal operations at maximum gross weight is between 14.2 and 19.2 inches.
NTSB Identification: WPR12FA123
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 05, 2012 in Brockton, MT
Aircraft: BELLANCA 7GCBC, registration: N5542K
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 5, 2012, about 1556 mountain standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5542K, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 12 miles southeast of Brockton, Montana. The private pilot was fatally injured and the one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (SDY), Sidney, Montana, at an unknown time.
Witnesses located outside and near the accident site, reported that the accident airplane flew over their location from the north and made a 360 degree left turn, followed by a 180 degree left turn. The airplane then departed to the west and ascended. Shortly thereafter, the witnesses observed the airplane in a left turn and descending to ground impact. The airplane “belly flopped” and then continued through a series of trees before it came to rest about 70 yards from the initial impact point.
CASEY PAGE/Gazette Staff
Kayla and Verlin Steppler hold their son, Easton, at St. Vincent Healthcare on Saturday.
On a Monday afternoon three weeks ago, Kayla Steppler watched as a plane carrying her husband fell from the sky in the northeastern corner of Montana. She was 38 weeks pregnant and knew that life had just taken a very dramatic turn.
"When I saw the plane in the air, I knew it was Verlin," Kayla said. "But I didn't want to believe it. I kept looking back toward our ranch looking for another plane."
Verlin Steppler, 31, and his father's cousin, James "Jim" Steppler, both of the Brockton area, took off into clear blue skies that afternoon. Flying planes was a longtime family affair that had been passed down from Verlin's grandfather.
"We'd flown hundreds of times before," Verlin said. "We were just taking in the sights."
Vast open space of ranchland is the last thing Verlin remembers from that day and from the following week.
On a flyover the house, the Bellanca fixed-wing, single-engine plane stalled for unknown reasons, crashing in the Steppler's front yard shortly before 4 p.m. Neighbors and ranch hands from every direction ran as fast as they could to the accident site. Emergency crews immediately responded.
Kayla was still a few miles from the house. When she arrived to her family's crashed plane 10 minutes later, everyone there tried keeping Kayla at a distance.
"I was told he was alive, but that was all that they would tell me," said Kayla, 25. "They didn't want me close to the accident — I guess afraid of what I would see. But I was persistent to get there and see him. I found comfort seeing he was breathing and seeing his eyes open. But it was the worst day of my life."
Jim Steppler, 54, died on impact during the crash. He is survived by his wife, their four children and three grandchildren.
Verlin was taken by helicopter to St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. Nine months pregnant, Kayla could not fly with her husband and had to make the 300-mile drive.
"I had no idea if he was going to make it," Kayla said. "It was a very hard drive to the hospital. But I had faith and a great support system with me."
For the next three weeks, they lived in the hospital, the first week of which was spent in intensive care. Verlin had broken ribs, a broken femur, and two broken vertebrae in his neck and two in his back. Doctors were not certain that Verlin would survive, and if he did, paralysis was likely.
"I was preparing myself for the fact that my husband would most likely be in wheelchair for the rest of his life," Kayla said. "But, that didn't matter so much — I just wanted my husband alive."
After just three weeks, doctors said Verlin was only months away from full recovery.
Verlin was released from St. Vincent Healthcare on Friday, just in time for the delivery of his first child at the same hospital, a few wards away.
Easton Arnold Steppler came into the world Friday at 7:38 p.m., weighing a healthy 9 pounds, 5 ounces. And Verlin was able to be with his wife throughout the delivery.
"The timing was perfect," Verlin said. "He is everyone's silver lining and will be a big part of everyone's healing process."
Jim's wife and family were the first family members to meet Easton.
"This is an extremely emotional time for all of us," Verlin said. "But we have a lot to be thankful for —family, friends and an amazing support system.
"And now there is this little guy."
Source: http://billingsgazette.com
