Bellanca 17-30 N4854V

Summary

On 8 December 1997 at about 21:30 local time, a Bellanca 17-30 registered N4854V was involved in an accident near Independence, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 1997 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Independence, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

37.2290, -95.7096

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30

Registration

N4854V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wichita → Harrison

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA059

2 people died.

the pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather. Contributing factors were low ceilings, fog, and the guy wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane struck a guy wire attached to a 414-foot tower, about 375 feet above ground level. The tower was located along the route of flight, between Wichita, Kansas, and the pilot's stated destination of Harrison, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated pilot had called and obtained a telephone weather briefing for the proposed cross-country flight. The briefer advised that the existing and forecast weather was IMC with low ceilings and fog along the proposed route. A resident located about one-quarter mile from the accident site told authorities he heard the airplane engine, which became silent, followed by a 'big thud.' He estimated the ceiling to be about 200 to 300 feet, at that time. Subsequent examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-existing mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.