# NTSB FTW82FRJ07: Bellanca 17-30A, N14779, Homer, LA, January 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1982, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Homer, LA
- Coordinates: 32.789894, -93.05088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7899&lon=-93.0509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FRJ07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71064/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRJ07

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - miscellaneous - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN IFR FLIGHT AT 5000 FT MSL, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER, BUT EVENTUALLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO WINDMILL WITH NO APPARENT THRUST. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH A CLOUD LAYER AND BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS OVER A WOODED AREA AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO AN OPEN AREA, BUT COLLIDED WITH TREES, IMPACTED ON A HARD SURFACED ROAD, AND BOUNCED OVER A FENCE AND INTO A PASTURE. THE PILOT EGRESSED WITH INJURIES TO HIS FACE AND BURNS ON HIS LEFT ARM; HOWEVER, THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14779](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14779-1982-08-12), registration cancelled 1982-08-12, S/N 74-30683 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1220433
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520K 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David Shelton
- Registered owner: David Shelton
- Departed: SHREVESPORT, LA
- Destination: TUPELO, MS
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,200 total, 21 in this make and model, 6,200 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 140 °F
- 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 19820102000359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820102000359A), Jan 2, 1982: Blanca 1730A, Homer, LA, Destroyed. Engine lost power IFR en route. Struck trees on breakout from low clouds. Cause of engine problem not known.

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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