Bellanca 14-13-2 accident near Moline, Illinois, September 6, 2003
On September 6, 2003 at about 1:54 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-13-2, registered N74467, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moline, Illinois (Quad City International airport). 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
The partial failure of the engine driven fuel pump and fuel starvation. An additional cause was the pilot misjudging the proper glidepath and his improper in-flight decision during the precautionary landing to pull back the power and lower the flaps prior to making the runway. Additional factors included the road embankment and the pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2003 · about 1:54 pm local time
- Place
- Moline, Illinois · Quad City International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-13-2 · all 14-13-2s on the register
- Registration
- N74467 · registry record · serial 1580
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it landed short of the runway during a precautionary landing. The pilot reported the fuel pressure was fluctuating during cruise flight so he decided to return to the departure airport. The pilot reported that during the landing approach, he was high and at 120 mph with the gear down, so he decided to pull the power back and lower the flaps. When the pilot realized that he was going to be short of the runway, he reapplied power but the engine did not respond. He reported he got low on the approach and had to maneuver to avoid buildings and transmission wires. The airplane impacted a road embankment, resulting in the main landing gear separating-off, and hit a telephone junction box before skidding to a stop. The pilot reported, "I had everything under control until I pulled the power to lower the flaps. Bad decision." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the diaphragm of the engine driven fuel pump had deteriorated and was allowing fuel to be pumped into the engine crankcase. No logbook entries were found regarding replacement or inspection of the engine driven fuel pump.
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: 578 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 531 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,293 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2003; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLI Moline IL at 1:47 pm
- Destination: C37 Brodhead WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,509 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from MLI
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.