# NTSB SEA79FA014: Bellanca 17-30, N7320V, Medford, OR, November 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 19, 1978
- Place: Medford, OR · MEDFORD, OR
- Location: 42.3360° N, 122.8518° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Medford, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3360&lon=-122.8518&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3584  78/11/19 NR.MEDFORD,OR         BELLANCA 17-30      CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 875
        TIME - 1644                    N7320V              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RENO,NV                     NORTH BEND,OR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    3500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      47
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- LOST CTL DURING DESCENT FROM 14500FT TO 10000FT.FREEZING LVL 6500FT.GENERAL DISINTEGRATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7320V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7320V-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N 30175, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30) (registry code 1220432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (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 19781119041179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781119041179A), Nov 19, 1978: Blanca 14193, Medford, OR, Destroyed. Lost ctl during descent from 14500FT to 10000FT.freezing lvl 6500ENERAL disintegration.

## Other investigations on N7320V (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX71FUD03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUD03), Aug 26, 1970: Bellanca 17-30 (N7320V), El Sereno, CA, substantial damage

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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