# NTSB ANC82DAA21: Bellanca 17-30, N4037B, Tok, AK, September 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1982, 16:40 local (Sep 30, 1982, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Tok, AK
- Location: 63.3367° N, 142.9856° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tok, AK, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.3367&lon=-142.9856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DAA21
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAA21

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, maneuvering
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A LOW ALTITUDE VFR FLIGHT TO NORTWAY, AK. THE PILOT HAD JUST REVERSED COURSE DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER WHEN HIS AUXILIARY FUEL TANK RAN DRY. HE SWITCHED TO A MAIN FUEL TANK WHICH HAD FUEL AND TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON, BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM A HIGHWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4037B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-30787
- Airframe hours: 879
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald Davis
- Registered owner: Ronald Davis
- Departed: FAIRBANKS, AK
- Destination: NORTHWAY, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,695 total, 203 in this make and model, 1,596 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 95 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820929055979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820929055979A), Sep 29, 1982: Blanca 1730A, Tok, AK, Destroyed. Ran aux tank dry at a low altitude. Failed to restart due incorrect procedure. Landed in trees short of a highway.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.