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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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September 11, 1983 · Bellanca 17-31ATC · N28077

Provincetown, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1983
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Provincetown, MA
Aircraft
Bellanca 17-31ATC
Tail Number
N28077
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FA254

THE ACFT CRASHED IN CAPE COD BAY DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. TWO SECTIONS OF WOODEN WING IDENTIFIED AS FROM THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE MISSING ACFT WERE RECOVERED FROM THE BAY DURING THE 3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE FLT OF THE ACFT. OTHER IDENTIFIED PARTS OF THE ACFT WERE RECOVERED DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ITS 3 OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND THE ACFT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A TRIP FROM BOSTON TO PROVINCETOWN THAT STARTED ON THE MORNING OF SEPT 11TH. THE PLT AND HIS BRIDE HAD BEEN IN BOSTON FOR 4 DAYS ON A HONEYMOON TRIP. THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN TO BOSTON AND THE COUPLES ROOM WAS NOT DISTRUBED AFTER THEY DEPARTED ON SEPT 11TH. THE ACFT MADE NO KNOWN RADIO CALLS ON THE RETURN FLT. THE COAST GUARD SEARCHED FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST MISSING PARTS WERE FOUND ON SEPT 12TH AND AGAIN ON OCT 4TH WHEN MORE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED IN CAPE COD BAY DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. TWO SECTIONS OF WOODEN WING IDENTIFIED AS FROM THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE MISSING ACFT WERE RECOVERED FROM THE BAY DURING THE 3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE FLT OF THE ACFT. OTHER IDENTIFIED PARTS OF THE ACFT WERE RECOVERED DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ITS 3 OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND THE ACFT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A TRIP FROM BOSTON TO PROVINCETOWN THAT STARTED ON THE MORNING OF SEPT 11TH. THE PLT AND HIS BRIDE HAD BEEN IN BOSTON FOR 4 DAYS ON A HONEYMOON TRIP. THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN TO BOSTON AND THE COUPLES ROOM WAS NOT DISTRUBED AFTER THEY DEPARTED ON SEPT 11TH. THE ACFT MADE NO KNOWN RADIO CALLS ON THE RETURN FLT. THE COAST GUARD SEARCHED FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST MISSING PARTS WERE FOUND ON SEPT 12TH AND AGAIN ON OCT 4TH WHEN MORE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:00 EDT
Nearest AirportProvincetown Mun (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 17-31ATC
Tail NumberN28077
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1E5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind230° @ 4 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data