# NTSB LAX80FA113: Bellanca 7GCAA, N171WS, Santa Ynez, CA, June 22, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 22, 1980
- Place: Santa Ynez, CA · SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Location: 34.6175° N, 120.0964° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Ynez, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6175&lon=-120.0964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130342
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA113
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA113

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3257  80/6/22  NR.SANTA YNEZ,CA      BELLANCA 7GCAA      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1027                    N171WS              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 39, 861 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LOMPOC,CA                  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED          SANTA,YNEZ CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N171WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171WS-1982-12-11), registration cancelled 1982-12-11, S/N 384-79 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs)
- 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 19800622022279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800622022279A), Jun 22, 1980: Bbavia 7GCAA, Santa Ynez, CA, Destroyed. Struck power lines suspended over a river valley at 40 feet above ground level.

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.