# NTSB LAX82FA162: Bellanca 17-30, N4907V, Santa Barbara, CA, May 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1982, 17:45 local (May 8, 1982, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Coordinates: 34.529655, -119.800277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5297&lon=-119.8003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72529/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA162

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT VISITED FRESNO FSS FOR A WEATHER BRIEFING ON ROUTE TO SANTA BARBARA. HE WAS ADVISED OF WEATHER AND TOLD VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT THEN SAID HE WOULD GO VFR AND MAKE AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH AT SANTA BARBARA IF WEATHER WAS AS BAD AS FORECAST. HE ALSO SAID HE DID NOT NEED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING. HE DEPARTED FRESNO AT 1623 WITH ONE PASSENGER AND PROCEEDED TO SANTA BARBARA. HE WAS DESCENDED TO 2300 FEET APPROACHING HIS FINAL FIX FOR A VOR RUNWAY 25 APPROACH BY SANTA BARBARA APPROACH CONTROL AND TOLD TO SWITCH TO TOWER FREQUENCY. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER AT 1741 THE FLIGHT CONTACTED THE TOWER AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE LOST. TOWER ADVISED THE FLIGHT TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE AND CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL. THE FLIGHT WAS HEARD ON DEPARTURE FREQUENCY BUT NO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. N4907V WAS FOUND ON MAY 8 AT AN ELEVATION OF 2450 FEET, 9 MI. FROM SANTA BARBARA VOR. THIS WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4907V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30137
- Airframe hours: 1777
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clamar Air
- Registered owner: Clamar Air
- Departed: FAT, FRESNO, CA
- Destination: F70, FORT WORTH, TX
- Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara, runway 25, 6,054 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,208 total, 484 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 136 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBA, 13 nm away

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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