# NTSB DEN79FA042: Bellanca 17-30A, N39877, Ruidoso, NM, May 29, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 29, 1979
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201202
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA042
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA042-201202

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3518  79/5/29    RUIDOSO,NM          BELLANCA 17-30A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 5500
        TIME - 1043                    N39877              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 280 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUIDOSO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RUIDOSO,NM                  HILL CITY,KS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: RAM AIR ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          230                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- OIL CAP MISSING.AIR FILTER OBSTD BY OIL.ALTN AIR DOOR BLKD BY IMPROPERLY SEATED FILTER.D/A 9500FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39877](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39877-1982-09-23), registration cancelled 1982-09-23, S/N 73-30546, built 1973 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ruidoso Muni

## 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 19790529041069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790529041069A), May 29, 1979: Blanca 1730A, Ruidoso, NM, Substantial damage. Left off engine oil filler cap. Engine lost power on takeoff. Oil blocked air intake. Alternate air defect.

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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