Bellanca 14-19-3A N1251R

Summary

On 31 July 2004 at about 14:25 local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A registered N1251R was involved in an accident near Estes Park, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 2004 at 14:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Estes Park, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.3709, -105.5207

Aircraft

Bellanca 14-19-3A

Registration

N1251R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Broomfield → Rawlins

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA113

Nobody was injured.

the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain for landing and the mailbox posts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he had just leveled off at his initial cruising altitude of 10,500 feet msl when the engine "sputtered a little bit." He enriched the mixture and the engine "ran fine for approximately five seconds, then quit." Despite remedial action, the pilot was unable to restore engine power. He squawked 7700 on the transponder and transmitted a mayday call on the emergency radio frequency, then made a forced landing on a road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck several mail box posts, crushing the outboard portion of the left wing leading edge. The engine was later functionally tested. No anomalies were noted. Pressurizing each wing tank fuel supply line revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.