# NTSB SEA93LA162: Bellanca 14-19-2, N7601E, Kanab, UT, July 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1993, 13:08 local (19:08 UTC)
- Place: Kanab, UT
- Coordinates: 37.270397, -112.229919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2704&lon=-112.2299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41739
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41739/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA162

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT WHEEL UP LANDING. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not extended, landing
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A NORMAL APPROACH WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND FLAPS SET AT 15 DEGREES, WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AGL, THE WIND SHIFTED AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED THROUGH HEAVY TURBULENCE. THE PILOT REACHED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS; HOWEVER, THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED GEAR UP ON THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On July 6, 1993, at 1308 hours mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 14-19-2, landed gear up at Kanab, Utah.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.

The pilot reported that a normal approach for landing in gusting wind conditions was performed.  The landing gear was down and the flaps were set at 15 degrees.  When the airplane was approximately 30 feet above ground level, the wind shifted and the airplane travelled through heavy turbulence.  The pilot reached for the flap level to retract the flaps, however, instead of the flap lever, the pilot retracted the landing gear.

The damage to the airplane was not reported until July 27, 1993.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7601E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7601E), registered now, S/N 4103, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 14-19-2
- Registry model: [Bellanca 14-19-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-19-2) (registry code 3080104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4103
- Airframe hours: 3290
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hull, Richard W.
- Registered owner: Richard Hull  & Assoc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1993, 38 hours before
- Airport: KNB, Kanab, runway 19, 6,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 1,465 in this make and model, 3,560 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19930706032809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930706032809A), Jul 6, 1993: Blanca 14192, Kanab, UT, Substantial damage. Landing in gusty crosswind. Retracted gear instead of flaps. Landing gear collapsed.

## Other investigations on N7601E (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 MKC68D0502](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68D0502), Mar 25, 1968: Bellanca 14-192 (N7601E), Moscow, KS, 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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