# NTSB MIA78FA065: Bellanca 17-30A, N39817, Gulfport, MS, April 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 11, 1978
- Place: Gulfport, MS · GULFPORT, MS
- Location: 30.3674° N, 89.0928° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gulfport, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3674&lon=-89.0928&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 27, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FA065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3252  78/4/11  NR.GULFPORT,MS        BELLANCA 17-30A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 57, 1500
        TIME - 0939                    N39817              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         GULFPORT,MS                  HARRISON,AR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       14
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- GENERAL DISINTEGRATION OF R WING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39817](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39817-1981-01-14), registration cancelled 1981-01-14, S/N 7330515, 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)
- 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 19780411035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780411035509A), Apr 11, 1978: Blanca 14193, Gulfport, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. General disintegration of r wing.

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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