Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 17-30A near Friendswood, TX — 2010-04-28

Final reportCEN10FA230
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Date
2010-04-28
Location
Friendswood, TX, USA
Aircraft
BELLANCA 17-30A
Registration
N14787
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The airplane's impact with terrain for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had just taken off on a local flight. Recorded global positioning system (GPS) information from a handheld unit showed the airplane take off on a south-southeasterly heading and climb to an altitude of 634 feet mean sea level (about 600 feet above ground level) before entering a gradual descent that continued until the airplane impacted terrain just before a treed area. Witnesses in the area heard the airplane’s engine produce a high pitched winding noise just before hearing the airplane impact the ground. Ground impact marks at the accident site were indicative of the airplane in a wings-level, continuous descent with the engine under power to the time of the impact. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed no anomalies indicative of any systems problems prior to the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have conducted a proper preflight inspection before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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