Bellanca 17-31ATC accident near Provincetown, Massachusetts, September 11, 1983
On September 11, 1983 at about 4:00 am local time, a Bellanca 17-31ATC, registered N28077, was destroyed in an accident near Provincetown, Massachusetts (Provincetown Mun airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1983 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Provincetown, Massachusetts · Provincetown Mun
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31ATC · all 17-31ATCs on the register
- Registration
- N28077 · registry record · serial 78-31147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN CAPE COD BAY DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT. TWO SECTIONS OF WOODEN WING IDENTIFIED AS FROM THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE MISSING ACFT WERE RECOVERED FROM THE BAY DURING THE 3 DAYS FOLLOWING THE FLT OF THE ACFT. OTHER IDENTIFIED PARTS OF THE ACFT WERE RECOVERED DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ITS 3 OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND THE ACFT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A TRIP FROM BOSTON TO PROVINCETOWN THAT STARTED ON THE MORNING OF SEPT 11TH. THE PLT AND HIS BRIDE HAD BEEN IN BOSTON FOR 4 DAYS ON A HONEYMOON TRIP. THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN TO BOSTON AND THE COUPLES ROOM WAS NOT DISTRUBED AFTER THEY DEPARTED ON SEPT 11TH. THE ACFT MADE NO KNOWN RADIO CALLS ON THE RETURN FLT. THE COAST GUARD SEARCHED FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST MISSING PARTS WERE FOUND ON SEPT 12TH AND AGAIN ON OCT 4TH WHEN MORE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 408 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 261 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Destination: BOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from HYA, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.