# NTSB CHI83FA319: Bellanca 17-30, N4831V, Hibbing, MN, July 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1983, 08:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Hibbing, MN
- Coordinates: 47.399364, -92.940528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3994&lon=-92.9405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA319
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12002/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA319

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED TO CHECK BACK BEFORE DEPARTING TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAD DEVELOPED. REPORTEDLY, HE TOOK OFF AT 0815 CDT, AND AT 0831 CDT, HE RADIOED THE HIBBING FSS FOR WX INFO. THE FSS SPECIALIST ADVISED THAT THE HIBBING WX WAS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS & THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS VFR ON TOP, THEN STATED HE DIDN'T THINK HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO DIVERT TO ELT, MN. HE REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO HIBBING WHICH WAS PROVIDED. AT 0849, HE REPORTED INBOUND OVER THE HIBBING VOR (7 MI SW OF THE ARPT). AT APRX 0855, THE ACFT CRASHED, SOUTHWEST OF THE INSTRUMENT APCH COURSE TO RWY 31 ON A HEADING OF 020 DEG. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH TREES & THE ANGLE OF DESCENT WAS MORE THAN 15 DEG. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENG SOUND INCREASED JUST BEFORE IMPACT. A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED AT THE CRASH SITE. DESPITE IMPACT DAMAGE, SOME FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY DECLARED LOW FUEL STATUS FOR PREFERRED HANDLING. FOG OBSCURRED THE TREE TOPS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4831V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30096
- Airframe hours: 1698
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles T. Wangensteen,Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1983, 26 hours before
- Departed: WI32, MADELINE ISLAND, WI
- Airport: HIB, Chisholm-Hibbing, runway 31, 6,494 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 844 total, 794 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HIB, 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 19830718037019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830718037019A), Jul 18, 1983: Blanca 1730, Hibbing, MN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Advised no VFR. Was on top got a special VFR descended into trees on approach to airport.

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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