History of Flight
On March 8, 2015, about 1650 central daylight time, a Bellanca Decathlon 8KCAB, registration N7698S, impacted terrain after making a low pass over a small private lake near Kosciusko, Mississippi. The airplane had departed from Kosciusko-Attala County Airport (OSX) at an undetermined time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Part 91.
Several witnesses observed the airplane flying over a private airstrip adjacent to the lake. According to one witness, the airplane initially made a high pass, then returned lower and "buzzed" the lake. The pilot pulled the airplane straight up to clear 50-foot-tall pine trees, when it suddenly nosed over and dropped straight down into the ground beyond the tree line. The witness stated that the airplane and engine were operating normally, and the pilot appeared to be having fun, grinning as he passed over the lake. Another witness, a retired airline pilot and active aerobatic pilot who owned the land, saw the airplane fly southwesterly over the lake. As it began a climbing right turn through 90 degrees, the left wing dropped. The witness reported that the pilot attempted to recover from a "cross-control stall" by lowering the nose and applying full rudder deflection. The airplane leveled momentarily before nosing over; the witness heard the engine power increase to full throttle before impact. The witness noted that the aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to recover and did not spin prior to impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued on April 21, 2014, at which time he reported 1,614.5 total flight hours, with 31.6 hours in the previous six months.
The pilot-rated passenger also held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued on May 1, 2013, reporting 136 total flight hours, with 70 hours in the previous six months.
Aircraft Information
The Bellanca Decathlon 8KCAB is a two-seat, fixed-gear airplane capable of sustaining aerobatic stresses between +6g and -5g. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on April 27, 2014, at a total time of 1,775.0 hours.
Meteorological Information
Weather reported at Greenwood-Leflore Airport (GWO), about 37 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1653, included wind from 010 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, ceiling 600 feet overcast, temperature 9°C, dewpoint 7°C, and barometric pressure 30.24 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
A postaccident examination revealed the airplane was nose-down with the tail nearly vertical. The engine was partially buried in soft ground. Both wings exhibited leading-edge impact damage, with fractured wood spars and ribs. Flight control continuity for ailerons, elevators, and rudder was established. The cockpit area was crushed, but the empennage and tail section were intact. The propeller remained attached; one blade was bent aft and the other bent aft at the tip. No mechanical problems precluding normal engine operation were observed.
Medical and Pathological Information
Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA. The pilot tested negative for all substances. The pilot-rated passenger tested positive for Diphenhydramine in urine and 0.032 µg/mL in blood (cavity). Autopsies conducted by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for both individuals as blunt force trauma.