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NTSB Report
April 17, 1989 · Bellanca 17-30A · N8785V
Junction, TX
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 17, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Junction, TX
Aircraft
Bellanca 17-30A
Tail Number
N8785V
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW89FA151
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT HAD RECENTLY ACCEPTED A NEW EMPLOYMENT POSITION & WAS USING HIS ACFT TO COMMUTE TO WORK. BEFORE TAKING OFF ON THE ACDNT FLT, HE OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. DRG THE FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN AREA OF ADVERSE WX. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE ACFT CRASH, ESTIMATED THE CEILING WAS 200 FT OVERCAST & VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI WITH FOG & DRIZZLE. THE ACFT CRASHED NEAR A HIGHWAY THAT EVENTUALLY PASSED NEAR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENG WAS REVVED UP TO A HIGH RPM WHEN IMPACT OCCURRED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION, THOUGH THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.
NTSB Probable Cause
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE WERE FACTORS.
Full Narrative
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT HAD RECENTLY ACCEPTED A NEW EMPLOYMENT POSITION & WAS USING HIS ACFT TO COMMUTE TO WORK. BEFORE TAKING OFF ON THE ACDNT FLT, HE OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. DRG THE FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN AREA OF ADVERSE WX. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE ACFT CRASH, ESTIMATED THE CEILING WAS 200 FT OVERCAST & VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI WITH FOG & DRIZZLE. THE ACFT CRASHED NEAR A HIGHWAY THAT EVENTUALLY PASSED NEAR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENG WAS REVVED UP TO A HIGH RPM WHEN IMPACT OCCURRED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DRG THE INVESTIGATION, THOUGH THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBellanca 17-30A
Tail NumberN8785V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-K · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingOvercast 200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT