# NTSB ATL00LA032: Bellanca 260 B, N8865R, Cornelia, GA, March 5, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2000, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Cornelia, GA
- Coordinates: 34.509304, -83.520759 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5093&lon=-83.5208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA032

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to use the checklist, resulting in a wheels-up landing and post-crash fire.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Fire, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he did not obtain much altitude and speed for the short flight. He also reported that the landing gear was not needed to slow the airplane down and was not extended on approach. The pilot reported that he forgot to extend the landing gear before landing, and he did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn after the throttle was retarded. He also stated that after he exited the airplane and was about 50 feet away, the airplane burst into flames. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or component failures with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On March 5, 2000, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 260 B, N8865R, landed with the wheels up and burst into flames on runway 24 at the Habersham County Airport in Cornelia, Georgia. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Canton, Georgia, at 1130.

The pilot stated that during the short flight from Canton, he did not obtain much altitude and airspeed. He reported that the landing gear was not needed to slow the airplane down and was not extended on approach.

According to the pilot, he forgot to extend the landing gear before landing, and did not recall hearing the landing gear warning horn after the throttle was retarded. The pilot also stated that after he exited the airplane and was about 50 feet away, the airplane burst into flames. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or component failures with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8865R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8865R-2004-08-03), registration cancelled 2004-08-03, S/N 4227, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bellanca 260 B
- Registry model: [Bellanca 14-19-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-19-3) (registry code 3080106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4227
- Airframe hours: 3800
- Engines: Continental IO-470F 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul L. Dorn Jr.
- Registered owner: Ace Auto Insurance
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 47A, CANTON, GA
- Airport: AJR, Habersham County, runway 24, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 525 total, 178 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 77 nm away

## 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 20000305008469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000305008469A), Mar 5, 2000: Blanca 14193, Cornelia, GA, No damage. (-23) Mr. Dorn was flying his a/c by himself into habershaw city airport on Sunday March 02, 2000, at approx. 1145(1). He was attemptng to land on runway 24…

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.

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