On July 30, 2006, an American Champion 7KCAB (registration N5232X) was involved in an aviation accident near Winter Park, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid a stall while maneuvering at a low altitude in mountainous terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Witnesses saw an airplane flying low over a lake and the continental divide before it suddenly nosed down and descended straight. Postaccident inspection indicated a stall/spin. The pilot was known for aerobatics and low-level flying.
Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, the pilot had flown to the area near a continental divide and camped in preparation for a flight over the divide the next day. The subsequent flight involved maneuvers over mountainous terrain before the aircraft lost control.
Witness Accounts
Multiple witnesses observed the airplane as it flew over the divide and circled around before heading toward a local lake. One witness reported that the airplane was so low that they thought it intended to land on the lake. Another witness saw the airplane enter a bank at low altitude, at which point "the nose turned down and the airplane went straight down like it was hit with a fly swatter." A third witness noted that the nose went down with the nose facing opposite the original direction of flight.
Pilot Background
Discussions with other pilots and the pilot's former aerobatic instructor indicated that the pilot enjoyed performing aerobatics and flying at low altitude over steep terrain.
Aircraft Examination
A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed impact signatures consistent with a loss of control and a stall/spin. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly was discovered.