# NTSB ERA23LA389: Bellanca 17-30A, N74TR, Baltimore, MD, September 3, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2023, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD · On AIrport
- Coordinates: 39.325661, -76.413756
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3257&lon=-76.4138&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- 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): 193284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA389
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193284/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193284
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA389

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway light.

## 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); 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 was attempting to land when the airplane bounced after touchdown and turned into the wind like a weathervane. The pilot aborted the landing, but as the airplane began to climb, it struck a taxiway light. The pilot thought he struck the left landing gear and contacted the control tower who confirmed that all three-landing gear appeared down and locked. The pilot was able to return to the airport and land without incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74TR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74TR), registered now, S/N 74-30713 (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: 74-30713
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Anderson Chercial
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2023
- Departed: HQU, Thomson, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MTN, Martin State, runway 15/33, 6,997 × 180 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 224 total, 224 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KMTN
- METAR: METAR KMTN 031643Z 11008KT 10SM FEW060 31/12 A3000

## 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 20230903015149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230903015149A), Sep 3, 2023: Bellanca 17-30A, Baltimore, MD, Minor damage. On 09/03/2023 at approximately 14:29 local time the pilot of [privacy data omitted], a Bellanca viking BL17, while conducting a landing on runway 33 at Martin…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193284. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16358185&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.

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