On June 11, 1990, a Champion 7KCAB (registration N1877G) was involved in an aviation accident near Pocatello, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE INSTRUCTOR PILOTS POOR JUDGEMENT IN PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE STEEP TURN MANEUVERS RESULTING IN AN INADVERTANT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW FOR RECOVERY. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot on his second local training flight after an 8-year hiatus was conducting low-level contour flying at altitudes as low as 10 ft AGL, performing steep turns with 60-70 degree bank angles. The aircraft was over gross weight and out of aft CG limits for aerobatic flight, with winds gusting to 27 knots.
Flight Details
The aircraft was on a student training flight in an area where the instructor was known to have students perform low-level contour following flights. These flights followed the winding Snake River at altitudes as low as 10 feet above ground level (AGL). The maneuvers required constant steep turns with bank angles of 60 to 70 degrees to remain over the river.
Pilot Experience
The student pilot had accumulated 54 flight hours. This was his second local training flight since resuming flight training after being inactive for 8 years.
Aircraft Weight and Balance
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was over gross weight and outside the aft center of gravity limits for aerobatic flight.
Weather Conditions
Winds at the time of the accident were 18 knots, gusting to 27 knots.