# NTSB ATL92LA088: Bellanca 17-30, N14690, Alto, GA, April 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1992, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Alto, GA
- Coordinates: 34.469642, -83.569107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4696&lon=-83.5691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8593/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA088

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISMANGEMENT OF THE FUEL IN THAT HE DELAYED SELECTION OF A FUEL TANK WITH USABLE FUEL, AND THE EXCESSIVE FINAL LANDING SPEED. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXTEND THE FLAPS AND THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN BECAUSE OF THE RAILROAD SPUR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole

## Analysis

DURING A NORMAL DESCENT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SPUTTER INDICATED THAT THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS IN USE, HAD BEEN EMPTIED. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & HELD THE BOOST PUMP IN PRIME. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED & SURGED BUT WOULD NOT CONTINUE OPERATING. AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A NEARBY AIRPORT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THEREFORE, A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO A WAREHOUSE. AFTER LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TRACKS OF A RAILROAD SPUR, WHICH SEPARATED THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THE LANDING ROLL UNTIL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A UTILITY POLE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, USABLE FUEL IN THE WING TANKS, & THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RIGHT WING TANK POSITION. AFTER THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MOVED, FUEL WHICH HAD BEEN DRAINED FROM IT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS USED IN THE AUXILIARY TANK TO OPERATE THE ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14690](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14690), registered now, S/N 74-30637, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- 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: 74-30637
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K1B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Forbes, Joseph D.
- Registered owner: Forbes, Joseph D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 1991, 50 hours before
- Departed: INT, WINSTON-SALEM, NC
- Destination: PDK, CHAMBLEE, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 285 total, 30 in this make and model, 236 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AHN, 30 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 19920424011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920424011079A), Apr 24, 1992: Blanca 1730A, Alto, GA, Substantial damage. Ran aux tank dry. Switched to right main. Only brief start. Force landed. Found fuel selector between tanks.

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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