# NTSB DEN85LA091: Bellanca 17-30A, N9735E, Taos, NM, March 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1985, 17:30 local (Mar 9, 1985, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Taos, NM
- Coordinates: 36.379596, -105.569313 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3796&lon=-105.5693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA091

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - performance data - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - all available runway - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THAT HE MADE A LATE DECISION TO ABORT HIS TAKEOFF AND THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY INTO SAGE BRUSH COVERED TERRAIN. THE ACFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9735E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-30779
- Airframe hours: 950
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520KIA 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Evanish
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SKX, TAOS, NM
- Destination: LINCOLN, NE
- Airport: SKX, Taos Municipal, runway 22, 5,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 616 total, 148 in this make and model, 471 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19850308009599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850308009599A), Mar 8, 1985: Blanca 1730A, Taos, NM, Substantial damage. Aborted takeoff but could not stop before running into sagebrush. Density altitude not computed by pilot.

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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