NTSB Factual Report

On December 29, 2003, about 1140 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N14763, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during landing roll when it impacted a concrete electrical box following an excursion off of runway 17 (3,538 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Wellington Municipal Airport (EGT), near Wellington, Kansas. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A Visual Flight Rules flight plan was filed and was not activated. The pilot sustained minor injury. The flight originated from Shawnee Regional Airport, near Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 1040 and was landing at EGT at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated:

Preflight, engine start, taxi and take off proceeded all normal.

Immediately follow[ing] TO, flight following was instituted

via OKC [A]pproach. Flight went without incident with

flight following via OKC Approach, Kansas City Center[,]

and Wichita Approach. Decent was uneventful. Decent and

preparation for landing were without significant factors. I was in

a slight left crab due to winds indicated as [300] at 6-8 knts. Upon

flair aircraft was aligned with runway and at touch down speed.

Aircraft landed. [S]oon after touch down of nose wheel (within

100' or so) aircraft took a hard left turn into a two wheel skid. Skid

marks indicate that [n]ose wheel was within four feet of center line

at beginning of skid. I (as pilot) made an input of right aileron

down which [exacerbated the] skid, including [the] right wing tip

scraping the runway. Aircraft departed runway. Aircraft returned

to three wheels down within 40 feet of runway edge. Aircraft was

uncontrollable on dry, dead grass. Aircraft impacted a 4'X4' concrete

box, placed [approximately] 75 feet left of runway. Box is part of in

ground lighting system for new runway being built west of present

runway. Box was in front of soft dirt mound of excavated dirt

[approximately] 8' high. Aircraft impacted box just right of corner at

[approximately] a 45 degree angle to side of box. Prop departed

aircraft. Engine was broken from all four engine mounting points

and moved right 8". Aircraft moved to the right [approximately] 2'-3'.

Box impacted left wing 12" left of fuselage attach point. Aircraft was

destroyed.

At 1154, the Strother Field Airport, near Winfield/Arkansas City, Kansas, recorded weather was: Wind 280 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 6 degrees C; dew point -6 degrees C; altimeter 30.12 inches of mercury.

At 1156, the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, near Wichita, Kansas, recorded weather was: Wind 290 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 5 degrees C; dew point -6 degrees C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury.

The North Central United States Airport/Facility Directory contained published remarks that warned personnel and equipment would be working adjacent to that runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot not maintaining directional control during the landing roll. Factors were the dry grass and the concrete box he encountered during his excursion off the runway.