Bellanca 17-30A accident near Branson, Missouri, March 17, 2012
On March 17, 2012 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N801RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Branson, Missouri (M. Graham Clark Taney County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2012 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Branson, Missouri · M. Graham Clark Taney County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N801RC · no longer on the register · serial 74-30631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the local wind was from the south at 8 to 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots, and he used runway 12 for the landing. He stated that during the landing approach, he “crabbed” the airplane into the wind and slipped the airplane to touch down on the centerline. Upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot reported that he applied “hard” right rudder. The left main gear traveled off the side of the runway and the right main gear remained on the runway. The airplane became airborne when the left main gear contacted a rise in the terrain. The airplane then settled back to the terrain and came to rest with the landing gear collapsed. Substantial damage resulted to the left wing spar. A skid mark, which veered sharply to the left side of the runway, was visible.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,012 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2011; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIH Vichy MO at 8:10 pm
- Destination: PLK Branson MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,738 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BBG, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.