# NTSB BFO85FA032: Bellanca 17-30A, N8233R, Roanoke, VA, March 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1985, 20:02 local (Mar 31, 1985, 01:02 UTC)
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Location: 37.2964° N, 79.9349° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ROANOKE/BLACKSBURG RGNL (WOODRUM FLD) (ROA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2964&lon=-79.9349&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11130/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA032

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - information insufficient, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
  - fuel system - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate instrument location, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - information unclear, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,shoulder harness - lack of (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED HE RAN A FUEL TANK DRY DURING FLT AT 6000 FT. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP & MANIP-ULATED THE ENG CONTROLS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON I-581, THE ACFT STRUCK A PICKUP TRUCK (TRAVELING IN THE SAME DRCTN), THEN VEERED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THE TRUCK WERE INJURED. ANEXAM REVEALED ALL FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL EXCEPT THE L MAIN TANK. THE BOOST PUMP SW WAS FND IN THE 'PRIME' POSITION, A CONDITION WHICH COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF THE ENG. DETAILS OF AIR RESTART PROCEDURE & BOOST PUMP POSITION NOMENCLATURE DIFFER BETWEEN MANUALS/ACFT MARKINGS. FUEL MANAGEMENT FOR THE 4 TANKS REQUIRED POSITIONING 2 SELECTOR VALVES THRU 6 POSSIBLE POSITIONS. TWO FUEL GAGES WERE INSTALLED; 1 WAS FOR THE 2 MAIN TANKS, THE OTHER WAS FOR THE 2 AUX TANKS. THE GAGES INDICATED ONLY THE QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE SELECTED TANK. THE OTHER GAGE READ EMPTY WHEN NEITHER OF ITS RESPECTIVETANKS WERE SELECTED. FLT MANUAL PROVIDED ONLY LIMITED INFO ON FUEL SYS. PLT'S FACE INJURED, NO SHOULDER HARNESS INSTLD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8233R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8233R-1991-08-09), registration cancelled 1991-08-09, S/N 30414 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17-30414
- Airframe hours: 1623
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: James R. Montgomery
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1984, 55 hours before
- Departed: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Destination: BCB, BLACKSBURG, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ROA, Roanoke Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,018 total, 180 in this make and model, 810 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA, 3 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 19850330076199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850330076199A), Mar 30, 1985: Blanca 1730A, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed. Unable to get an air start on engine after running a tank dry. Struck a truck during forced landing on 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.

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