# NTSB SEA91FA220: Bellanca 17-30A, N14698, Arlington, WY, August 23, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1991, 13:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WY
- Location: 41.6053° N, 106.1997° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Arlington, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6053&lon=-106.1997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91FA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41336/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA220

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.  FACTORS CONTRIUBTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE TREES AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE LOW TIME, RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED DENVER, COLORADO, ON A VFR FLIGHT TO OGDEN, UTAH, ABOUT 1150 LOCAL AND REPORTED 6 NM SOUTH OF LARAMIE (LAR), WYOMING, AT 10500 FEET AT 1250 LOCAL. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A CLEARCUT AREA 31 NM WEST OF LAR AT 9,200 FEET MSL APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT ROTATIONAL SCARRING ON THE PROPELLER NOR WITHIN THE ENGINE. TREE IMPACTS AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEARCUT WERE CONSISTENT WITH A RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PILOT FILED WITH 4 HOURS 50 MINUTES OF FUEL ABOARD. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14698](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14698-1992-02-11), registration cancelled 1992-02-11, S/N 7330615 (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
- Serial number: 73-30615
- Airframe hours: 1524
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas B. & Pamela Smith
- Registered owner: Thomas B. & Pamela Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1991, 9 hours before
- Departed: APA, DENVER, CO
- Destination: OGD, OGDEN, UT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 100 total, 10 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAR, 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 19910823036469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910823036469A), Aug 23, 1991: Blanca 1730A, Arlington, WY, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Impacted trees edge of clear cut. No power on impact. Fuel selector empty aux tank. Horizontal tail deformation.

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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