NTSB CAROL · Event
Event MKC89FA153
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT BY PERFORMING ACROBATIC FLIGHT WITH BAGGAGE IN THE REAR COCKPIT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH PROBABLY RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND RESULTED IN UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT AND A SPIN.
Factual narrative
BEFORE TAKEOFF, SOMEONE ASKED THE PLT TO PERFORM A ROLL. DURING DEPARTURE, THE ACFT PROCEEDED OUTBOUND ABOUT 3 MI, THEN WAS TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. A ROLL WAS PERFORMED, BUT SOON THEREAFTER, THE ACFT ENTERED A DSCNT & BEGAN SPINNING. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT MADE ABOUT 2 TURNS OF A SPIN BEFORE DISAPPEARING FROM THEIR VIEW. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 2 BACK PACKS, A BAG OF CLOTHING & A FOLDING CHAIR HAD BEEN STOWED IN THE REAR SEAT AS BAGGAGE. THE PILOT HANDBOOK STATED THAT 'BAGGAGE IS NOT ALLOWED DURING ACROBATIC FLIGHT.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1989_MKC89FA153.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
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