Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during low altitude maneuvering.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, he was flying about 500 feet above the ground, dropping candy to children as part of a church outing. He encountered a "rotor" wind off the nearby mountain and when he initiated a turn, the wing stalled. He lost control of the airplane and crashed near a church camp. The airplane came to rest, inverted. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he was flying about 500 feet above the ground, dropping candy to children as part of a church outing. He encountered a "rotor" wind off the nearby mountain and when he initiated a turn, the wing stalled. He lost control of the airplane and crashed near a church camp. The airplane came to rest, inverted. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.