Bellanca 17-30 N4789V

Summary

On 2 December 1998 at about 19:00 local time, a Bellanca 17-30 registered N4789V, operated by Robert E. Hill, was involved in an accident near Star, North Carolina, 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

2 December 1998 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Star, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Montgomery County (43A)

Coordinates

35.4008, -79.7798

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30

Registration

N4789V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert E. Hill

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Smithfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA040

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to use proper short-field landing procedure, resulting in an extended flare and touchdown by the nose wheel and right main wheel simultaneously, and the subsequent loss of directional control and collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he performed a short field approach, had completed his flare with his main wheels on the runway when, upon lowering the nose wheel to the runway the airplane veered off the left side. The excursion continued into the grass for about 100 feet until collision with trees. Examination of the runway by an FAA Inspector revealed that tire skid marks showed at least three separate touchdowns, and that the first touchdown was with the nose wheel only. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would cause directional control difficulties.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.