# NTSB CHI04LA049: Bellanca 17-30A, N14763, Wellington, KS, December 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2003, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Wellington, KS - Coordinates: 37.324443, -97.387222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3244&lon=-97.3872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58555/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining directional control during the landing roll. Factors were the dry grass and the concrete box he encountered during his excursion off the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed during landing roll when it impacted a concrete electrical box following an excursion off of runway 17. The pilot stated, "I (as pilot) made an input of right aileron down which [exacerbated the] skid, including [the] right wing tip scraping the runway. Aircraft departed runway. Aircraft returned to three wheels down within 40 feet of runway edge. Aircraft was uncontrollable on dry, dead grass." The concrete electrical box was located approximately 75 feet left of the runway. The Airport/Facility Directory contained published remarks that warned personnel and equipment would be working adjacent to that runway. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2003, about 1140 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N14763, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during landing roll when it impacted a concrete electrical box following an excursion off of runway 17 (3,538 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Wellington Municipal Airport (EGT), near Wellington, Kansas. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A Visual Flight Rules flight plan was filed and was not activated. The pilot sustained minor injury. The flight originated from Shawnee Regional Airport, near Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 1040 and was landing at EGT at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: Preflight, engine start, taxi and take off proceeded all normal. Immediately follow[ing] TO, flight following was instituted via OKC [A]pproach. Flight went without incident with flight following via OKC Approach, Kansas City Center[,] and Wichita Approach. Decent was uneventful. Decent and preparation for landing were without significant factors. I was in a slight left crab due to winds indicated as [300] at 6-8 knts. Upon flair aircraft was aligned with runway and at touch down speed. Aircraft landed. [S]oon after touch down of nose wheel (within 100' or so) aircraft took a hard left turn into a two wheel skid. Skid marks indicate that [n]ose wheel was within four feet of center line at beginning of skid. I (as pilot) made an input of right aileron down which [exacerbated the] skid, including [the] right wing tip scraping the runway. Aircraft departed runway. Aircraft returned to three wheels down within 40 feet of runway edge. Aircraft was uncontrollable on dry, dead grass. Aircraft impacted a 4'X4' concrete box, placed [approximately] 75 feet left of runway. Box is part of in ground lighting system for new runway being built west of present runway. Box was in front of soft dirt mound of excavated dirt [approximately] 8' high. Aircraft impacted box just right of corner at [approximately] a 45 degree angle to side of box. Prop departed aircraft. Engine was broken from all four engine mounting points and moved right 8". Aircraft moved to the right [approximately] 2'-3'. Box impacted left wing 12" left of fuselage attach point. Aircraft was destroyed. At 1154, the Strother Field Airport, near Winfield/Arkansas City, Kansas, recorded weather was: Wind 280 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 6 degrees C; dew point -6 degrees C; altimeter 30.12 inches of mercury. At 1156, the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, near Wichita, Kansas, recorded weather was: Wind 290 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 5 degrees C; dew point -6 degrees C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury. The North Central United States Airport/Facility Directory contained published remarks that warned personnel and equipment would be working adjacent to that runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14763](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14763-2006-03-14), registration cancelled 2006-03-14, S/N 74-30705, built 1974 (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: 74-30705 - Airframe hours: 2706.5 - Engines: Continental IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joel R. Clay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2003, 24 hours before - Departed: SNL, SHAWNEE, OK - Destination: EGT, Wellington, KS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EGT, Wellington Muni, runway 17, 3,538 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 25 in this make and model, 249 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: WLD, 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 20031229033329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031229033329A), Dec 29, 2003: Blanca 1730A, Wllington, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft landed in normal attitude prior to veering left of centerline and leaving the runway. The aircraft impacted a concrete structure approximately… 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.