# NTSB SEA72AS048: Bellanca 17-31A, N6581V, Onalaska, WA, April 28, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 28, 1972
- Place: Onalaska, WA · ONALASKA, WA
- Location: 46.5782° N, 122.7111° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Onalaska, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5782&lon=-122.7111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA72AS048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72AS048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1239  72/4/28    ONALASKA,WASH       BELLANCA 17-31A     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 900
        TIME - 2320                    N6581V              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 54 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PALO ALTO,CALIF             RENTON,WASH                  MEDFORD,OREG
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        REMARKS- LOSS OF CTL FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.L WG PANEL SEPARATED JUST BFOR IMPACT.RECOVERY DATE 8/20/72.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6581V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6581V-1974-04-24), registration cancelled 1974-04-24, S/N 32-21 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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