# NTSB IAD74AI052: Bellanca 17-31A, N39824, Upper Marlboro, MD, March 10, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 10, 1974
- Place: Upper Marlboro, MD · UPPER MARLBORO, MD
- Location: 38.8157° N, 76.7568° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Upper Marlboro, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8157&lon=-76.7568&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74AI052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2980  74/3/10    UPPER MARLBORO,MD   BELLANCA 17-31A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 152
        TIME - 0504                    N39824              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 11 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MIAMI,FLA                   BALTIMORE,MD                 NEW BERN,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      280
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           4                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FSS ADZD VFR FLT NOT RCMDD.ARTCC ADZD RETURN TO NEW BERN.ERRATIC COURSES.DEPD MIA ABT 1500,3/9.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39824 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19740310043949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740310043949A), Mar 10, 1974: Blanca 1731A, Upper Marlboro, MD, Destroyed. Fss adzd VFR flt not rcmdd.ARTCC adzd return to new bern. Erratic courses. Depd mia abt 1500,3/9.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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