Bellanca 17-30A N28145
26 May 2002 · Willits, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 26 May 2002 at about 23:30 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N28145, operated by David H. Lovitt, was involved in an accident near Willits, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Willits, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Ells Field-Willits Municipal (O28)
- Coordinates
- 39.4514, -123.3722
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Registration
- N28145
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- David H. Lovitt
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Davis → Willits
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX02LA175
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to raise the flaps and the wind shear conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot lost directional control and failed to maintain runway alignment while attempting to land, and collided with multiple obstacles on the airport. During the landing flare, about 3 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered a strong wind shear from the west. The airplane turned about 45 degrees to the left. The pilot initiated a go-around by adding full throttle, and applied full right rudder pressure in an effort to regain runway alignment. The main landing gear and flaps remained in the down position, and the airplane did not establish a positive rate of climb. The airplane struck the top of a fuel island and collided with a sign. The airplane made contact with the ground about 50 feet north of the fuel island and slid into a hangar, colliding with an unoccupied car that was parked inside. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bellanca 17 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2002 | Bellanca 17-30 | Plainview, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 2002 | Bellanca 17-30A | Puertecitos, Mexico | Milton E. Black | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 2002 | Bellanca 17-30A | Alexandria, Minnesota, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Oct 2002 | Bellanca 17-30 | Bogota, Colombia | Private Individual | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Nov 2002 | Bellanca 17-30A | Pell City, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 2002 | Bellanca 17-31A | Gainesboro, Tennessee, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul 2002 | Ayres S2R-T34 | Firebaugh, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 2002 | Beechcraft A36TC | San Andreas, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 May 2002 | Sierra RAF 2000 GTX-SE | Lompoc, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 2002 | Trenti RV-4 | Jacumba, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Feb 2002 | Thunder and Colt COLT 120 A | Moreno Valley, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Pzl-Bielsko SZD-42-2 JANTAR | Hemet, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |