Aircraft: Grumman American. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Burlington, Wis. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.
What reportedly happened: The pilot had not flown much in the preceding two years. His most recent flight occurred more than five months before the accident flight.
A witness on the ground saw the airplane maneuvering near the airport. According to the witness, the Grumman entered a left turn and steep descent.
Moments later, the airplane went into a tight, right turn that developed into a spin.
The airplane crashed in an extremely nose-low attitude about 1/4 mile from the runway’s threshold.
An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
It could not be determined if the pilot was maneuvering the airplane due to a perceived traffic conflict or for some other purpose.
Investigators determined the circumstances of the accident are consistent with an inadvertent stall and spin.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.
NTSB Identification: CEN13FA060
This November 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
What is the real purpose of having NTSB investigations of small GA accidents anyway? Is it a statutory thing, or a policy thing? Is it the Puritan compulsion to assign blame and publicly shame the wrong-doer (or in this case, his survivors)?
These days the diminishing pool of recreation GA pilots is simultaneously told to (a) get out and fly more hours in order to hone skills, and (b) never, ever have an accident. These two admonitions are diametrically opposed. And based on NTSB reports I have been reading for the past 25 years, almost EVERY accident is attributed to pilot error.
A Grumman American is a sporty little aircraft, and the owner had probably done plenty of steep turns without stalling and spinning the aircraft. The last steep turn bit him in the behind resulting in a tragedy for two families. Why the need for the feds to pile on after the fact? Will publishing this report mean that this kind of accident will never, ever happen again?!?
No wonder private pilots are quietly but steadily heading toward the exits.
How about a placard that reads: WARNING: STEEP TURNS BELOW 1000 FEET AGI BELOW 80 KNOTS PROHIBITED or even better WARNING: KEEP THE BALL CENTERED STUPID