MIA04LA015

Factual narrative

On October 30, 2003, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N5519K, registered to and operated by Rocky Top Aero Inc., impacted a tree while on approach to the Leeward Air Ranch, Ocala, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The commercial-rated pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI) reported minor injuries and the private-rated pilot/student reported no injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight had originated about 20 minutes earlier from the same airport. The CFI stated that he was instructing the student in a maneuver that called for a return to the departing runway after an engine failure. The CFI stated that he closed the throttle on the student as they crossed the departure end of runway 36, about 700 feet above the ground. The student started a left hand turn back to the runway at a bank angle of about 60 degrees, in order to make the runway. At some point during the turn the student applied an excessive rudder input, stalling and causing the aircraft to enter a spin. The CFI took the controls and recovered the airplane. During the recovery, the airplane struck an 8-inch diameter oak tree. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that there was insufficient distance for the airplane to clear the oak tree grove from the altitude at which the CFI recovered. The aircraft struck the tree in a climbing attitude causing the fuselage to break and bend the left landing gear. The airplane rotated counterclockwise as it fell tail first through the remaining trees before impacting the ground tail first, which it then fell over coming to rest on its back. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was instructing the student in a maneuver that called for a return to the departing runway after an engine failure. The CFI stated that he closed the throttle on the student as they crossed the departure end of runway 36, about 700 feet above the ground. The student started a left hand turn back to the runway at a bank angle of about 60 degrees, in order to make the runway. At some point during the turn the student applied an excessive rudder input, stalling and causing the aircraft to enter a spin. The CFI took the controls and recovered the airplane. During the recovery, the airplane struck an 8-inch diameter oak tree. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that there was insufficient distance for the airplane to clear the oak tree grove from the altitude at which the CFI recovered. The aircraft struck the tree in a climbing attitude causing the fuselage to break and bend the left landing gear. The airplane rotated counterclockwise as it fell tail first through the remaining trees before impacting the ground tail first, which it then fell over coming to rest on its back. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12