# NTSB DEN80FA049: Bellanca 17, N4066B, Sterling, CO, July 19, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 19, 1980
- Place: Sterling, CO · STERLING, CO
- Location: 40.6205° N, 103.1926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6205&lon=-103.1926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1625  80/7/19    STERLING,CO         BELLANCA 17         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 650
        TIME - 0735                    N4066B              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 13 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CROSSON FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STERLING,CO                 VERNAL,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES STATED PWR NOT REDUCED DRG LDG ROLL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4066B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4066B-1995-11-27), registration cancelled 1995-11-27, S/N 7431107 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31ATC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31atc) (registry code 1220437) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Crosson Field

## 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 19800719029959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800719029959A), Jul 19, 1980: Blanca 1731ATC, Sterling, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot attempted emergency landing on returning to airport after takeoff. Aircraft burned after landing.

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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