Casualties unknown

1984-10-13: Bellanca 73CA (N53860) — Porterville, CA

Porterville, CA, US

On October 13, 1984, a Bellanca 73CA (registration N53860) was involved in an aviation accident near Porterville, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft lost control during the landing flare and subsequent go-around attempt, veering off the runway and colliding with a fence and building. The pilot reported a gust of wind pushing the aircraft right, followed by a radical right wing drop.

Accident Overview

An aircraft crashed after experiencing an inflight loss of control during both the landing flare and the subsequent go-around attempt. The pilot reported approaching touchdown in a three-point attitude when a gust of wind suddenly pushed the aircraft to the right of the runway. The pilot added that the aircraft "crabbed" and then began moving off the runway into the adjacent field.

Go-Around Attempt

To abort the landing, the pilot added power to initiate a go-around. Initially, everything seemed to be progressing normally, but the pilot stated that "all of a sudden the right wing dropped radically." Despite efforts, the pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft.

Collision

The uncontrolled aircraft continued off the right side of the runway and collided with a chain link fence and an aircraft factory building. The sequence of events, as described by the pilot, involved a sudden lateral displacement during the flare followed by a severe roll event during the go-around.

Pilot Statement

The pilot's account indicates that the loss of control occurred without any prior warning signs. The aircraft was in a stable approach until the gust of wind disrupted the landing attitude. The pilot did not mention any mechanical anomalies or other contributing factors.

Investigation Findings

No explicit cause for the accident was stated in the available source material. The investigation likely focuses on the aerodynamic factors related to the gust of wind and the subsequent loss of control during the go-around. The collision with ground objects occurred after the loss of control could not be corrected.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X41387. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.