Bellanca 17-30A accident near Louisville, Kentucky, September 16, 1987
On September 16, 1987 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N7378V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky (Bowman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 16, 1987 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Louisville, Kentucky · Bowman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N7378V · no longer on the register · serial 30233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO LAND AND DURING HIS 2ND GO AROUND THE ENG CUT OUT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED FROM LEFT TANK TO RT TANK BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENG PRIOR TO MAKING A FORCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A HOUSE AND TREE. THE PLTS RPT STATES THAT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS BE MADE ON RT TANK WHEN USING LEFT TRAFFIC. ALSO NO STEEP TURNS INTO TANK BEING USED. THE PLT ALSO SAID THAT FUEL WAS MANAGED TO ARRIVE AT DEST ON FULLEST/RT TANK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,182 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1987; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 71J Ozark AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:33 am from LOU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.