Bellanca 17-30A accident near Burnet, Texas, January 15, 2026
On January 15, 2026 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 17-30A, registered N8213R, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Burnet, Texas (Burnet Municipal Airport/Kate). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper judgement to relinquish his pilot responsibilities to the passenger with the engine operating, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with a parked vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2026 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Burnet, Texas · Burnet Municipal Airport/Kate · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A, built 1972 · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N8213R · registry record · serial 30425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In preparation for the personal flight, the pilot started the airplane to warm the engine. He then set the airplane’s parking brake and exited the airplane to load baggage while the engine was operating at idle. He asked the passenger, who was not a pilot, to board the airplane while the baggage was being loaded and to pull the mixture control if anything should happen. The pilot then went into the fixed base operator to get his debit card and to use the bathroom. Within two minutes, he heard the engine sound increase, and the airplane taxi into an unoccupied vehicle that was parked about 75 yards away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard section of right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by never placing an unattended non-pilot passenger in parked operating airplane and would be scheduling remedial pilot training with a flight instructor.
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 control on ground during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unnecessary action › Flight crew
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,953 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,327.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520K (piston); 2,327 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from BMQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 13, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.