# NTSB DEN00LA174: Bellanca 17-30A, N14774, Las Cruces, NM, September 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2000, 12:26 local (18:26 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Location: 32.3123° N, 106.7783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Cruces, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3123&lon=-106.7783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50271/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral clearance with terrain. Factors were the confined area used for takeoff, and the high vegetation alongside the road. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - congested/confined area (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The ranch foreman told the pilot that the airstrip had not been 'bladed or rolled' in 3 years, and suggested he take off from a nearby road. The pilot walked along 4,000 feet of the road, and determined it was suitable for departure. A short field takeoff was attempted into a 5 to 7 knot headwind. As the airplane lifted off the road, the left wing struck a mesquite brush, spinning it around. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2000, at 1226 mountain daylight time, Bellanca 17-30A, N14774, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a bush during takeoff roll near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The commercial pilot was not injured, but his two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's accident report, he had made an uneventful landing on a dirt airstrip next to a ranch earlier that morning. After conducting business, and in preparation for departure, the ranch foreman advised the pilot that the airstrip had not been "bladed or rolled" in 3 years. He suggested he take off from a nearby road. A realtor added, "Everyone uses the road." The pilot walked along 4,000 feet of the road, and determined it was suitable for departure. A short field takeoff was attempted into a 5 to 7 knot headwind. As the airplane lifted off the road, "the left wing struck something, spinning [the airplane] around in [a] complete circle." According to the FAA inspector who went to the accident site, the airplane veered to the left during takeoff and struck a mesquite bush. It then traveled 336 feet through the air, struck the ground, spun around 720 degrees, and skidded to a halt 1,947 feet from the start of the takeoff roll and 50 feet left of the roadside. The inspector said it appeared "the pilot failed to apply sufficient right rudder at liftoff to maintain directional control," allowing the airplane to "drift left sufficient[ly] for the left wing to strike the mesquite bush branch." The pilot said he should not have heeded the advice of the realtor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14774](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14774-2001-04-19), registration cancelled 2001-04-19, S/N 74-30617 (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: 74-30617 - Airframe hours: 2205 - Engines: Continental IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen D. Ulsan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2000, 46 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX - Airport: NONE, Ez Heart Ranch ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,386 total, 250 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 46 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 20000917014459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000917014459A), Sep 17, 2000: Blanca 1730A, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 17, 2000, at approx. 1226 MDT, a Bellanca, BE-17-30A, N14774 struck a mesquite bush then crashed on takeoff from a dirt road on the Ez Heart… 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.