# NTSB DEN01LA091: Bellanca BL17-30, N6671V, Columbus, NM, April 26, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2001, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Columbus, NM - Coordinates: 32.260314, -107.749549 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2603&lon=-107.7495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52160/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA091 ## Probable cause The impact with terrain following an inadvertent stall/mush by the pilot during a go-around. A contributing factor was a dust devil. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind (contributing factor) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ditch (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was preparing to land westbound on a road when a "dust devil" struck the airplane. As he applied full power to abort his landing, a gust of wind struck the airplane causing it to drift to the south of the road towards a set of power lines. He "pulled up" and tried to maneuver the airplane over the power lines,however, the airplane stalled and impacted the ditch on the north side of the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, right wing tip, nose landing gear, both left and right main landing gear and propeller. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2001, at approximately 1610 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca BL17-30, N6671V, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an aborted landing on a county road, 12 miles west of Columbus, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Deming Municipal Airport, Deming, New Mexico, at approximately 1555. According to the pilot, he was preparing to land westbound on Carzelia Loop Road when a "dust devil" struck the airplane. As he applied full power to abort his landing, a gust of wind struck the airplane causing it to drift to the south of the road towards a set of power lines. He "pulled up" and tried to maneuver the airplane over the power lines, however, the airplane stalled and impacted the ditch on the north side of the road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, right wing tip, nose landing gear, both left and right main landing gear and propeller. The winds at the time of the accident were light and variable at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6671V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6671V-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 30049, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca BL17-30 - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30) (registry code 1220432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30049 - Airframe hours: 3016 - Engines: Continental IO-520K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James A Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2001, 27.2 hours before - Departed: DMN, Deming, NM - Destination: Columbus, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 25, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 19 in this make and model, 43 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KDMN, 28 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 20010426011099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010426011099A), Apr 26, 2001: Blanca 1730, Columbus, NM, No damage. (.19)On April 26, 2001, at approximately 1610 MDT, a Bellanca BL17-30, N6671V, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an aborted… 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.