# NTSB ATL92FA090: Bellanca 17-30A, N28110, Burnsville, NC, April 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1992, 23:15 local (Apr 26, 1992, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Burnsville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.910312, -82.289222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9103&lon=-82.2892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8503
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8503/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA090

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER INFORMATION AND HIS CONTINUED VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH HIGH TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT.

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES AT NIGHT INTO AN AREA OF RAPIDLY  RISING TERRAIN. DEPARTURE CONTROL INSTRUCTED THE FLIGHT TO CLIMB TO 8,500 FEET.THE WEATHER BRIEFING ADVISED THE PILOT OF POSSIBLE TURBULENCE AND ICING CONDITIONS ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL RESIDENCES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT, SNOW SHOWERS WERE PRESENT AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE LAST RADAR PLOT PLACED AN AIRCRAFT AT 6,500 FEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE TERRAIN ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,300 FEET. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28110](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28110-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 79-30918, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30918
- Airframe hours: 1823
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Swope, Garrett H.
- Registered owner: Swope, Garrett H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Destination: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 25 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 19920425011519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920425011519A), Apr 25, 1992: Blanca 1730A, Burnsville, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees on mt mitchell. Low ceiling snow in area. Indicates pilot had made a 180 turn prior to crash.

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.