# NTSB ATL83FA176: Bellanca 17-31A, N8855V, Waverly, GA, March 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1983, 23:30 local (Mar 17, 1983, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Waverly, GA
- Coordinates: 31.089864, -81.719802 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0899&lon=-81.7198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5910/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA176

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - lightning (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - altitude - below, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH AT NIGHT IN STORMY WEATHER. BOTH THE CFI, SEATED IN THE FRONT LEFT SEAT, & THE NEW OWNER OF THE ACFT, WERE FATALLY INJURED. AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED & THE CFI HAD OBTAINED 2 WX BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ACFT HAD JUST RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AS A PART OF THE SALES CONTRACT. AT 2313 BRUNSWICK FSS ADVISED JACKSONVILLE CENTER THAT N8855V WAS CLEARED FOR APPROACH & WAS INBOUND. JACKSONVILLE GAVE FSS THE MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES. AT 2321 FSS ADVISED JACKSONVILLE THAT COMMUNICATIONS HAD BEEN LOST. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALTHOUGH THE ACFT HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 03-15-83, A DISCREPANCY LIST, DATED 03-16-83, FOUND IN THE ACFT SHOWED THE #2 VOR WAS UNRELIABLE; THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO PRECESSED; THE COMPASS NEEDED TO BE CALIBRATED; THE FUEL GAUGES WERE UNRELIABLE; & THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WAS SUSPECT IN HIGH LOAD SITUATIONS. THE ALTIMETER, PITOT STATIC SYSTEM & TRANSPONDER HAD NOT BEEN RECERTIFIED SINCE 1978. ALSO, NO RECORD OF VOR ACCURACY CHECKS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVEST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8855V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8855V-1993-05-13), registration cancelled 1993-05-13, S/N 3249 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-49
- Airframe hours: 1675
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1E5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Harold A. Albritton
- Registered owner: Watch Security Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1983, 11 hours before
- Departed: PDK, CHAMBLEE, GA
- Destination: SSI, SAINT SIMONS ID, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SSI, Malcolm Mc Kinnon, runway 4, 5,466 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,101 total, 4,799 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SSI, 19 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 19830316011179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830316011179A), Mar 16, 1983: Blanca 1731A, Waverly, GA, Destroyed. Struck trees on a VOR approach in area of thunderstorm. Severe turbulence and heavy rain. Impact velocity fatal.

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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