# NTSB DEN81FTE23: Bellanca 17-31A, N14796, Kit Carson, CO, March 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 1, 1981
- Place: Kit Carson, CO · KIT CARSON, CO
- Location: 38.7628° N, 102.7955° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kit Carson, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7628&lon=-102.7955&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0119   81/3/1    KIT CARSON,CO       BELLANCA 17-31A     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 650
        TIME - 1930                    N14796              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 595 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ENGLEWOOD,CO                GARDEN CITY,KS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - RECIEVED RECORDED BRIEFING BY TELEPHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      45
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED LOWERING CEILINGS ENROUTE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14796](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14796-2013-04-11), registration cancelled 2013-04-11, S/N 74-32-140, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810301006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810301006649A), Mar 1, 1981: Blanca 1731A, Kit Carson, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered lowering ceiling en route at night. Flew into ground at cruise speed.

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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