# NTSB CHI80FA032: Bellanca 17-30A, N39897, Bellefontaine, OH, March 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 28, 1980
- Place: Bellefontaine, OH · BELLEFONTAINE, OH
- Location: 40.3625° N, 83.7628° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bellefontaine, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3625&lon=-83.7628&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1147  80/3/28    BELLEFONTAINE,OH    BELLANCA 17-30A     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43,
        TIME - 2215                    N39897              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OGDENSBURG,NY               RICHMOND,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: AUTOMOBILE                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: GENERATORS/ALTERNATORS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       46
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NUMEROUS CRACKS FOUND IN ALT DRIVE BELT,DEFLECTED APRX 2IN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39897](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39897), registered now, S/N 73-30556 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800328007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800328007979A), Mar 28, 1980: Blanca 1730A, Bellefontaine, OH, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Pilot ran out of fuel. Tried landing on road, hit car. Killed two persons. Pilot had been drinking.

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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