Ohio State University Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Ohio 43215
Wednesday, March 16, 1983 17:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT ON 2/28/83. FROM THAT DATE UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT ON 3/16/83, HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LANDING GEAR. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE INDICATORS SHOWED THAT THE GEAR HAD RETRACTED, BUT THERE WAS NO NORMAL SOUND OF GEAR RETRACTION. THE PLT FLEW PAST THE TOWER FOR A GEAR CHECK & TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE GEAR APPEARED TO BE DOWN. DURING A SUBSEQUENT LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, THE ACFT WENT OF THE RWY & STRUCK A RWY LIGHT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GEAR CONTROL RELAY & AIRSPEED SWITCH CONTACTS WERE CORRODED, PITTED AND/OR SCORED. WHEN THESE WERE REPLACED, THE GEAR OPERATED NORMALLY. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PLT DID NOT USE THE MANUAL GEAR EXTENSION SYS WHICH WOULD HAVE POSITIONED THE GEAR IN THE DOWN & LOCKED POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City COLUMBUS
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43215
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OSU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 904
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1747 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OSU
Elevation of weather observation facility 904
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 5
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1004
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21312
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93571
NTSB Number CHI83LA142
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30A
Aircraft Serial Number 73-30616
Certified Max Gross Weight 2217
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 994
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN E. STEVENSON, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2802 DOWNING WAY
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9R
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --