# NTSB LAX02LA190: Bellanca 17-30A, N8249R, Fallon, NV, June 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2002, 06:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.499443, -118.748886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4994&lon=-118.7489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54901/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54901 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA190 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to attain an adequate takeoff airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush. The high gross weight and density altitude were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - climb - not attained ## Analysis The airplane settled into the ground on a taxiway during the takeoff initial climb. After the pilot raised the flaps during takeoff, the airplane did not seem to climb. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed; however, due to his proximity to the ground, he had to raise the nose again to reestablish a climb. He repeated the cycle of raising and lowering the nose as he turned back to the airfield. The stall warning horn was sounding during this sequence. The airplane touched down hard on the taxiway, continued through a median, crossed over the runway, and came to rest in the sand. The airplane departed with full fuel and was at or near gross weight. The density altitude was 4,647 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2002, about 0635 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N8249R, made a hard landing on a taxiway at Fallon, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and one passenger was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Fallon about 0630, en route to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that the winds were light and variable and favored departure on runway 03. Start, taxi, run-up, and takeoff were not remarkable. According to the pilot, his usual procedure during the initial climb was to raise the flaps from the takeoff setting. After he did this, he usually felt the airplane settle. After he raised the flaps on this takeoff, the airplane did not seem to climb. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed; however, due to his proximity to the ground, he had to raise the nose again to reestablish a climb. He repeated the cycle of raising and lowering the nose as he turned back to the airfield. The stall warning horn was sounding during this sequence. As he decided that an approach to runway 3 was not possible, the pilot turned the airplane to cross about midfield. The airplane touched down hard on the taxiway, continued through a median, crossed over the runway, and came to rest in the sand. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot departed with full fuel and that it was at or near gross weight. A witness, a professional pilot, reported that the engine was at high rpm. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude using a computer program at 4,647 feet mean sea level (msl). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8249R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8249R-2004-11-08), registration cancelled 2004-11-08, S/N 30453, built 1972 (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: 3045-3 - Airframe hours: 3381 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Road Runner Sanitary Supply - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2001, 56.3 hours before - Departed: FLX, FALLON, NV - Destination: HII, LAKE HAVASU, AZ - Airport: FLX, Fallon Municipal Airport, runway 03, 5,703 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 610 total, 441 in this make and model, 568 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: NFL, 5 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 20020609011539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020609011539A), Jun 9, 2002: Blanca 1730A, Fallon, NV, No damage. (.19) On June 9, 2002, about 0635 pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N8249R, made a hard landing at Fallon, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54901. 424 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-FAA (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA-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.