# NTSB ERA21LA162: Bellanca 1730, N93638, Bessemer, AL, March 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 26, 2021, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Bessemer, AL - Coordinates: 33.312611, -86.926306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3126&lon=-86.9263&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102809/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102809 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA162 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during landing he did not maintain control and the airplane and it veered left off the left side of the runway. He then added power in an attempt to take off and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted trees and terrain, and the fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93638](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93638-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 73-30577, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 1730 (A) - 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: 73-30577 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2272 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hatch Transportation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2021, 0 hours before - Airport: EKY, Bessemer Airport, runway 5, 6,007 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 631 total, 110 in this make and model, 631 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: EKY, 1 nm away ## 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 20210326005009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210326005009A), Mar 26, 2021: Bellanca 17-30A, Bessemer, AL, Destroyed. The pilot made an approach to the runway , however decided to go around. Upon the second attempt, the aircraft touched down, but the pilot lost control of the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102809. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12168337&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12168659&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12168450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12168669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.