# NTSB OAK79FA012: Bellanca 17-31, N9555E, San Rafael, CA, December 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 23, 1978
- Place: San Rafael, CA · SAN RAFAEL, CA
- Location: 37.9810° N, 122.5069° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Rafael, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9810&lon=-122.5069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79FA012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4089  78/12/23 NR.SAN RAFAEL,CA      BELLANCA 17-31      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1720                    N9555E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  56, 1982 TOTAL HOURS, 850
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN FRANCISCO,CA            NOVATO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 12/24/78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9555E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31
- 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 19781223042119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781223042119A), Dec 23, 1978: Blanca 1731ATC, San Rafael,Ca, CA, Destroyed

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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