# NTSB LAX72DVA46: Bellanca 17-30A, N8785V, Shafter, CA, February 18, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1972
- Place: Shafter, CA · SHAFTER, CA
- Location: 35.5005° N, 119.2718° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shafter, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5005&lon=-119.2718&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72DVA46
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72DVA46

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1075  72/2/18    SHAFTER,CALIF       BELLANCA 17-30A     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 232
        TIME - 1230                    N8785V              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SHAFTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERCED,CALIF                BAKERSFIELD,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT UNAWARE ELEC FUEL PUMP MUST BE TURNED ON TO REGAIN PRESS AFT SWITCHING FROM EMPTY TO FULL TNK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8785V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8785V-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 30333, built 1970 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Shafter

## Other investigations on N8785V (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW89FA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA151), Apr 17, 1989: Bellanca 17-30A (N8785V), Junction, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE WEATHER…

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.