NTSB Identification: SEA07FAMS2
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, September 03, 2007 in Yerington, NV
Aircraft: Bellanca 8KCAB-180, registration: N240R
Injuries: 1 Fatal.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On October 1, 2008, the aircraft wreckage was located at the 10,138 foot level in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the NTSB has reopened the investigation. A revised report and a determination of probable cause will be issued upon completion of the investigation. The following information was posted prior to the discovery of the wreckage.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On September 3, 2007, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB-180 (Super Decathlon), N240R, was reported overdue/missing near Yerington, Nevada. The airline transport pilot was the sole occupant on board. The airplane was owned by the Flying M Hunting Club Inc. and was loaned to the pilot for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which originated from a private airport between 0820 and 0830. No flight plan had been filed.
The Flying M Hunting Clubs chief pilot had breakfast with the pilot on the day of the missing airplane report. During breakfast, the chief pilot asked the pilot what he wanted to do that day, and the pilot said he wanted to fly the Super Decathlon. The chief pilot prepared the airplane for flight by removing it from its T-hangar and confirmed that it was full of fuel. The pilot arrived about 0815 and conducted a preflight of the airplane in the presence of the chief pilot. The chief pilot reviewed the fuel-injected engines starting procedures with the pilot, and asked him where he was going. The pilot responded that he was heading south to Highway 395, which runs north-south through Owens Valley.
Another employee of the Flying M Hunting Club observed the airplane about 0825 or 0835 approximately 8 nautical miles (nm) south of the departure airstrip (near Aldridge Mountain pass). The employee knew the airplane well, because it was commonly used for spotting cattle, which he was responsible for rounding up. He saw it flying south at about 150 to 200 feet above the ground. The same employee reported seeing the airplane again about 1055 or 1110, approximately 11 nm south of the departure airstrip. He said the airplane flew within 200 feet of him heading east, at an altitude of less than 100 feet. He watched the airplane fly towards the Mud Springs area, located about 1.5 miles from his position.
The chief pilot said that he expected the airplane to return by 1030 or 1100. The pilots personal pilot was standing by to assist in parking the airplane at 1100. When the airplane had not returned by 1130, the chief pilot became concerned, and an aerial search was commenced within 30 minutes. No emergency radio transmissions were received from the airplane, nor were any Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) transmissions received.
The Civil Air Patrol, State and County authorities, and friends of the pilot initiated an extensive search for the missing airplane. The terrain searched was located in two states and involved several counties. The Civil Air Patrol suspended its search activities on September 30, 2007.
PERSONNEL
The 63-year-old pilots most recent second-class Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate was issued on February 14, 2007. On his application for this medical certificate, the pilot indicated that he had 6,731 hours of flight experience, with 350 hours in the previous 6 months. The pilot was certificated as an airline transport pilot multiengine. He also had commercial certificates in single engine land, single engine sea and helicopter, and held an instrument helicopter rating. Additionally, he had private pilot certificates in gliders and balloons. The pilot received recurrency training in a Cessna Citation X in April 2007.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane, a Super Decathlon, was a single engine, propeller-driven, tail-wheel fixed landing gear, two seat airplane, which was manufactured by Bellanca Aircraft Corporation in 1980. Its maximum takeoff gross weight was 1,800 pounds. It was powered by a Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A, reciprocating, air cooled, fuel injected engine. Annotations in the airplanes maintenance records indicated that its last annual inspection was performed on April 8, 2007. The airframe and engine each had 1,072 hours of flight time at the time of inspection.
In 1996 the airplane received a factory modification of new wings, which incorporated aluminum spars and ribs. The airplane was not equipped with a GPS receiver.
The airplane was involved in a landing incident on May 27, 2007. During this event, the airplane departed the runway during landing roll and impacted a barbed wire fence. An engine sudden stoppage examination was performed and a new constant speed propeller was installed on the airplane.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1056, the weather conditions at Fallon Naval Air Station (NFL; elevation 3,934 feet), Fallon, Nevada, located about 52 miles north of the departure airstrip, were as follows: wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 10 statue miles; clear of clouds, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 33 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 29.96 inches of mercury. A pilot reported encountering moderate turbulence at 11,500 feet near Hawthorne, Nevada, approximately 17 nautical miles east of the departure airstrip at approximately 1200.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
The point of departure was a private airstrip, located at 38 degrees, 36 minutes and 42 seconds north, and 119 degrees, 00 minutes and 05 seconds west. The 5,700 x 75 foot long runway, elevation 4,953 feet mean sea level (msl) was asphalt paved.
Index for Sep2007 | Index of months
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Accident / Incident Search: A total of 1 Accident(s) and 1 Incident(s) in public records for this aircraft
AD's: A total of 14 Airframe AD's reported on PF Reports for this aircraft for repairs
Service Difficulty Report: 0 SDRs reported on PF Reports for this aircraft
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