# NTSB ERA15CA169: Bellanca 17 31A, N93715, Siler City, NC, March 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2015, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Siler City, NC - Coordinates: 35.704166, -79.504165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7042&lon=-79.5042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90943/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90943 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA169 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the airplane's landing gear was down and locked prior to touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-31A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=1220435), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a ferry flight, while turning from downwind leg to base leg of the airport traffic pattern, the pilot became distracted when the cabin door popped open. The pilot continued on the approach and prior to touchdown, advanced the propeller rpm, set the mixture to full rich, and put the flaps down. As he reduced the throttle he heard a horn and thought it was the stall warning horn, but afterwards believed it probably was the gear warning horn, as they sounded somewhat similar. He did not think anything about it as he normally hears the stall horn at touchdown. He stated that he felt like the approach was a little faster than normal and he reduced the power to help to try to slow down. At touchdown he realized that he had not selected gear down. The airplane landed on its belly and when it came to a stop, there was smoke in the cockpit. Then when the pilot exited the cabin and stepped out on the wing to exit the airplane, he noticed flames on the aft side of the right wing. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by a postcrash fire. ## Factual narrative During a ferry flight, while turning from downwind leg to base leg of the airport traffic pattern, the pilot became distracted when the cabin door popped open. The pilot continued on the approach and prior to touchdown, advanced the propeller rpm, set the mixture to full rich, and put the flaps down. As he reduced the throttle he heard a horn and thought it was the stall warning horn, but afterwards believed it probably was the gear warning horn, as they sounded somewhat similar. He did not think anything about it as he normally hears the stall horn at touchdown. He stated that he felt like the approach was a little faster than normal and he reduced the power to help to try to slow down. At touchdown he realized that he had not selected gear down. The airplane landed on its belly and when it came to a stop, there was smoke in the cockpit. Then when the pilot exited the cabin and stepped out on the wing to exit the airplane, he noticed flames on the aft side of the right wing. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by a postcrash fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93715](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93715-2018-10-23), registration cancelled 2018-10-23, S/N 74-32-135, built 1973 (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 - Serial number: 74-32-135 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 1356 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540-K1ES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2013, 6 hours before - Departed: SCR, Apex, NC - Destination: SCR, Siler City, NC - Airport: SCR, Siler City Municipal Airport, runway 22, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,665 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,610 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: SCR ## 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 20150324004639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150324004639A), Mar 24, 2015: Bellanca 17-31A, Siler City, NC, Destroyed. The aircraft, N93715, was on an approved flight under a special flight permit when the cabin door opened and the pilot became distracted. He forgot to lower… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90943. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records – KSCR METARs (item 3, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20%E2%80%93%20KSCR%20METARs-Master.PDF - Special Flight Permit Application and Issuance for Ferry Flight (item 4, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Special%20Flight%20Permit%20Application%20and%20Issuance%20for%20Ferry%20Flight-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Runway Showing Scarring – Courtesy of FAA (item 5, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Runway%20Showing%20Scarring%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Propeller Strike Marks – Courtesy of FAA (item 6, .PDF, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Propeller%20Strike%20Marks%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Main Wreckage – Courtesy of FAA (item 7, .PDF, 924 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – Right Side View of Main Wreckage – Courtesy of FAA (item 8, .PDF, 932 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Side%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20%E2%80%93%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.