History of the Flight
On March 15, 1994, at approximately 1600 Mountain Standard Time, a flight instructor and a student pilot departed Edmonton Municipal Airport in a Bellanca Decathlon (registration not specified) for a VFR flight to Villeneuve Airport, Alberta. The purpose was to check out the private pilot on the aircraft type. After arriving at Villeneuve, they conducted three or four touch-and-go landings on runway 16. They then decided to practice crosswind landings on runway 26 and were cleared for a left-hand downwind circuit. The tower later cleared them for a full-stop landing on runway 26, but revised it to a touch-and-go.
Meanwhile, a Cessna 172 from the same company was cleared for a right-hand downwind circuit to runway 16. After the Decathlon's touch-and-go, the tower instructed the Decathlon to sequence behind the Cessna, which was on final for runway 16. The instructor spotted the traffic, believed there was a risk of collision, assumed control from the student, and initiated a steep climbing turn to the right.
At approximately 200 feet above ground level, the Decathlon banked steeply to the right and pitched nose down. Despite the instructor's recovery efforts, the left wing tip and right main landing gear struck the snow-covered ground. The aircraft skidded before coming to rest upright, substantially damaged. Both occupants escaped without injury. The accident occurred at 1650 MST at coordinates 53°40′N, 113°51′W, elevation 2,241 feet above sea level.
Injuries and Damage
The two occupants (one crew, one passenger) were not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No other damage was reported.
Aircraft Information
The Bellanca Decathlon (8KCAB, serial number 205-75, year 1975) is a two-place tandem, strut-braced high-wing monoplane. It was equipped with a Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B engine and a Hartzell propeller. At the time of the occurrence, the aircraft weight was approximately 1,795 pounds, within the maximum allowable take-off weight of 1,800 pounds. The center of gravity was within limits. The stall warning system (horn and light) was serviceable; the instructor reported hearing the stall warning during the climbing turn.
Meteorological Information
Weather conditions at Villeneuve Airport were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with CAVOK. The surface wind was from 130 to 160 degrees magnetic at 10 to 15 knots. There were no obstructions to vision.
Communications
VHF radio communications were established between Villeneuve Tower and both aircraft on 120.0 MHz. The Decathlon was cleared for a downwind left-hand circuit to runway 26, then for a full-stop, later revised to a touch-and-go. After the touch-and-go, the tower instructed the Decathlon to move slightly right of the centerline to pass behind the Cessna on final for runway 16. All clearances were acknowledged by the student pilot.
Wreckage and Impact
Propeller blade damage was consistent with considerable power at impact. The accelerometer indicated approximately 2.8 positive G's. The accident was survivable due to snow attenuating deceleration forces, the aircraft's attitude, and the pilots' use of five-point inertia reel shoulder harnesses, with the cabin maintaining integrity.
Probable Cause
The Board determined that, while attempting a low altitude climbing turn, the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed, and the aircraft stalled. There was insufficient altitude available to effect a full stall recovery.