Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On June 23, 1996, at 2045 mountain daylight time, an American General AG5B, N227ER, was destroyed while maneuvering at Longmont, Colorado. The private pilot and student pilot rated-passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. The pilot said he departed on runway 29 and climbed at 85 kias (knots indicated airspeed), then lowered the nose and continued climbing at 65 kias. At 700 feet agl (above ground level), he reduced engine power by "a few hundred" rpm to simulate a partial power loss and lowered the nose. The stall warning sounded and he lowered the nose further and "possibly" increased power. The airplane entered a right spin and the pilot was able to recover at an estimated altitude between 200 and 300 feet agl. The airplane immediately entered a left spin. The pilot was again able to stop the spin, then the airplane collided with terrain.

According to the student pilot-rated passenger, the pilot told him the "impossible turn" was not impossible and that he would demonstrate. As the airplane climbed through 700 feet agl, the pilot pulled back the throttle and made a 20 degree left bank without lowering the nose. The airplane stalled and "porpoised" to the ground.

Numerous ground witnesses reported seeing the airplane spinning before impact. An inadvertent stall spin. Factors were the pilot's intentional maneuver at an altitude insufficient to ensure a safe recovery, and overconfidence in his personal ability.