What happened
The accident occurred during the fourth flight of the day. The pilot was carrying relatives in the vicinity of another relative's house. While maneuvering the aircraft, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decay during a 55-degree bank. He did not recognize that the aircraft was approaching a stall condition. When the aircraft stalled, there was insufficient altitude to recover before impacting the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics and pilot actions leading up to the impact. Analysis confirmed that the airspeed had decayed significantly during the banked turn. The pilot's failure to recognize the impending stall was a critical factor in the loss of control.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's inadequate recognition of the stall warning signs and the insufficient altitude available for recovery. The maneuvering flight phase with passengers on board added complexity to the situation, but the primary cause was the aerodynamic stall due to low airspeed in a bank.
Safety message
Pilots must maintain adequate airspeed during maneuvering flight, especially when banking. Recognizing early signs of an impending stall is critical for maintaining control and ensuring sufficient altitude for recovery.