# NTSB LAX97LA009: Bellanca 17-30A, N28172, Jackpot, NV, October 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1996, 05:11 local (12:11 UTC) - Place: Jackpot, NV - Coordinates: 41.880657, -114.780174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8807&lon=-114.7802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent disorientation in dark night time conditions and failure to maintain a proper climbing attitude. ## 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 - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot departed the desert airport toward the south during a dark night with only 16 percent of the moon illuminated. According to the airport data sheet, terrain obstructions are located to the south and west of the airport. The center of town is located less than a mile east of the airport. The pilot said that he began a left turn shortly after takeoff and that was the last thing he could remember. A ground witness and the passenger said that the engine sounded normal. The wreckage examination disclosed that the airplane's left wing dragged the terrain during the left turn. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 1996, at 0511 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N28172, crashed about 1/2 mile from the airport shortly after departing runway 15 at Jackpot Airport, Jackpot, Nevada. The pilot was beginning a visual flight rules personal flight to Nampa, Idaho. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries. His passenger, a recently certificated private pilot occupying the right front seat, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A ground witness reported that he was at his residence (about 1 mile east of the airport) with his sliding door open and heard the airplane depart about 0510. He said the engine sounded normal and loud. Moments later, he heard a loud bang and immediately went outside and saw the airplane's illuminated rotating beacon. The ground witness reported that the surface winds were light and variable and that the skies were clear. He said that the visibility exceeded 30 miles and the temperature was about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. An FAA inspector from the Reno [Nevada] Flight Standards District Office conducted the on-scene investigation. He said that the airplane's left wing struck the ground while in a left turn. After dragging the wing, the airplane slid about 100 yards on its left side with its nose pointing toward the north. The inspector did not report that he found any airplane preexisting malfunctions or failures. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on October 10, 1996, that everything appeared normal. He said that he could see the bluff south of the airport and then made a left turn. That is the last thing he could remember about the flight. He said that he could not recall if the engine was operating normally. The passenger also said that the takeoff was normal and smooth. She said the pilot began the left turn at the normal altitude. The next thing she could remember was being in the airplane after it had crashed. She said that the engine sounded normal throughout the segment of the flight that she could remember. According to the airport data sheet, there are terrain obstructions located about 1 mile south and west of the airport. The terrain south of runway 15 is about 200 feet above the runway and its obstruction clearance slope is 24:1. The center of town is less than a mile east of the airport. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot flew into "total darkness." According to a computer generated Sun and Moon Information program, the altitude of the moon at the time of the accident was 23.4 degrees above the horizon with 16 percent of the moon illuminated. Although requested to do so, the pilot did not submit the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28172](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28172-1997-04-28), registration cancelled 1997-04-28, S/N 7830895 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 78-30895 - Engines: Continental IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mr. Sandman, Inc. Of Oregon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 06U - Destination: S67, NAMPA, ID - Airport: 06U, Jackpot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19961008031239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961008031239A), Oct 8, 1996: Blanca 1730A, Jackpot, NV, Destroyed. Flew into dark unlit rising terrain on climbout VFR. Failed establish positive climb. 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.