Bellanca BL-17-30A accident near Brewton, Alabama, May 1, 1998
On May 1, 1998 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, registered N6645V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brewton, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance procedures used to overhaul the engine, which led to the crankshaft failure. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1998 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brewton, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-17-30A
- Registration
- N6645V · registry record · serial 30309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot experienced a lost of engine power and he made a forced landing in an a field There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft was substantially damaged after colliding with a fence during the landing roll. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 3 main bearing had spun, the crankshaft was broken at the number 3 cheek, and the crankcase exhibited fretting at the case mating surfaces, consistent with improper through-bolt torque. The engine had undergone a top overhaul 197.4 hours prior to the failure of the crankshaft.
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: 402 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1997; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3A0 Grove Hill AL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CEW, 40 miles away
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.