# NTSB SEA85FA084: Bellanca 17-31A, N9705E, Yamhill, OR, April 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1985, 15:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Yamhill, OR
- Coordinates: 45.359138, -123.239448 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3591&lon=-123.2394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40037
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40037/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA084

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command
  - elevator trim - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT APCH THE AIRSTRIP WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED. TOUCHDOWN ON THE RWY WAS BEYOND THE HALFWAY POINT & THE ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. POWER WAS APPLIED FOR AN APPARENT GO-AROUND. THE ACFT CLEARED TALL TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BUT CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE, 'SHAKING AND YAWING.'  THE ACFT THEN FELL OFF ON THE LEFT WING & ROLLED 180 DEGREES TO A VERTICAL ATTITUDE BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. A POST-IMPACT FIRE IMMEDIATELY ENSUED, TOTALLY CONSUMING THE WOOD & FABRIC COMPONENTS OF THE ACFT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS IN THE FULL NOSE-UP POSITION. BELLANCA PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT WITH THE ELEVATOR TRIM IN THAT POSITION & WITH FULL POWER APPLIED, CONTROL FORCES TO REDUCE THE PITCH WOULD BE VERY HIGH & WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE BOTH HANDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9705E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9705E-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 77-32-168, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 77-32-168
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1E5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold R. Eklund
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1984, 50 hours before
- Departed: 60S, VANCOUVER, WA
- Airport: Flying M Ranch, runway 26, 2,130 × 45 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 850 total, 150 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 27,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HIO, 30 nm away

## 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 19850407010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850407010879A), Apr 7, 1985: Blanca 1731A, Yamhill, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Touched down long applied power for go around but stalled into trees. Trim was found in near full nose up position.

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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