Stall / Spin · NTSB CEN12FA462
NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6A — Walsenburg, CO
| Date | July 21, 2012 |
| Location | Walsenburg, CO |
| Aircraft | NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6A |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Approach-VFR pattern base Aerodynamic stall/spin |
| Pilot age | 43 |
| Pilot total time | 500 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 50 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
What happened
Witnesses observed the airplane as it entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and saw the landing gear and flaps configured for landing. They stated that the airplane's airspeed appeared to slow as the airplane turned right toward the runway. According to the witnesses, during the turn, the airplane's bank angle and roll rate increased and directional control of the airplane was lost. The airplane entered a nose-low spiral and rapidly descended. Based on the witness reports of the airplane’s steep bank angle and low altitude, it is likely the airplane stalled during the turn from base-to-final leg in the traffic pattern, and the pilot was unable to regain control before it impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.