Bellanca 17-30A accident near Camden, South Carolina, July 30, 1985
On July 30, 1985 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N6707V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camden, South Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 30, 1985 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Camden, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N6707V · no longer on the register · serial 30311
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE ACFT WAS FLYING OVER WOODED TERRAIN, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT SAW A PLOWED FIELD APRX 3 MI AWAY & BEGAN AN EMERG APCH TO THE FIELD. THE ACFT STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES ON FINAL APCH, BUT CONTINUED FLYING UNTIL THE PLT MADE A GEAR UP LANDING. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD FAILED AT A WELD WHERE A BALL JOINT WAS CONNECTED. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT, BURN THE MAGNETO WIRES & RENDER THE MAGNETOS INOPERATIVE. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, AD 76-23-03, WHICH REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYS EACH 100 HRS, HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON 10/7/83, BUT HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 12/7/84. THE ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED 68 HRS OF FLT TIME SINCE COMPLIANCE WITH AD 76-23-03.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,295 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDN Camden SC at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.