ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 44215
Last updated: 6 December 2019

Type:Silhouette image of generic CH7A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Bellanca 7ECA Traveler
Owner/operator:Sutton Aviation Inc
Registration: N55CW
C/n / msn: 1294-79
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Pontiac, MI -   United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Departure airport:Pontiac, MI (PTK)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground while maneuvering for landing. After completing a touch and go landing on runway 27L, the pilot requested a full stop landing at which time the control tower operator offered to allow the airplane to land on a parallel runway in the opposite direction. Communications transcripts show that the pilot accepted this offer and was subsequently cleared for landing on runway 09L. The airplane impacted the ground off of the approach end of runway 09L. According to several witnesses the airplane had been performing takeoffs and landings prior to the accident. Witnesses reported that during preceding traffic patterns, the airplane was making steep bank turns that were not necessary for normal flight. Transcripts of communications show that the airplane was cleared for landing a total of 24 times during the 67 minute flight, yielding an average traffic pattern of less than 3 minutes between landings. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane that could be determined to have existed prior to impact.

Probable Cause: The excessive bank angle executed by the flight crew and their failure to maintain airspeed during the turn, which led to the inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. A factor was the low altitude.



Revision history:

28-Oct-2008 00:45 ASN archive Added
05-Dec-2017 09:00 ASN Update Bot Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Narrative]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description