# NTSB DEN87LA072: Bellanca 17-30A, N8793V, Greeley, CO, March 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1987, 17:15 local (Mar 26, 1987, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.439773, -104.670761 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4398&lon=-104.6708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17179
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17179/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA072

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear - overload (cause)
  - directional control - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, AFTER A NORMAL PATTERN, AN UNUSUAL NOISE WAS HEARD BY THE PILOT. HE DESCRIBED IT AS A 'THUD' OR A LOUD 'POP' NOISE. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO PREMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8793V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8793V-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 30334, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30334
- Airframe hours: 1600
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson Chevrolet-Olds Inc.
- Registered owner: Johnson Chevrolet-Olds Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1986, 20 hours before
- Departed: APA, DENVER, CO
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld, runway 27, 7,035 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 604 total, 17 in this make and model, 453 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870325008849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870325008849A), Mar 25, 1987: Blanca 1730A, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. The gear collapsed on landing. Inspection found damage typical of overload.

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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