Bellanca 17 30 accident near Grove, Oklahoma, June 25, 2017
On June 25, 2017 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1974 Bellanca 17 30, registered N14728, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Grove, Oklahoma (Grove Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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
An unporting of fuel in the right wing while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2017 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grove, Oklahoma · Grove Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17 30 A, built 1974 · all 17 30s on the register
- Registration
- N14728 · no longer on the register · serial 75-30741
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and his passenger were landing at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. During the right turn from the base leg to the final leg of the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to restore power by switching from the right fuel tank to the auxiliary fuel tank, but engine power was not restored. The airplane was substantially damaged during the subsequent forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination revealed that the right fuel tank had at least 5 gallons of fuel remaining, 4 gallons of which were unusable. The left fuel tank contained 5 gallons of fuel, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full, containing 15 gallons of fuel. An examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the loss of engine power could not be duplicated during an engine test run. Given the low fuel state of the right wing, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation as the fuel unported during the right turn.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 14.5 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 2017; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO 520 K (piston); 522 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO5 Van Buren MO at 6:00 pm
- Destination: GMJ Grove OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GMJ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N14728 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.