Bellanca 17-30 accident near Delavan, Wisconsin, April 1, 1984
On April 1, 1984 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N7389V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delavan, Wisconsin (Lake Lawn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 1, 1984 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Delavan, Wisconsin · Lake Lawn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7389V · registry record · serial 30224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS DESCENDING FROM 3500 FT MSL TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALT (2000 FT MSL), HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO THE RIGHT TANK. UPON ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE MADE HIS PRELANDING CHECKS. WHEN HE ADVANCED THE MIXTURE, THE ENG QUIT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD WHERE THE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY, BUT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD 12 GALS REMAINING.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMI Bloomington IL at 9:45 pm
- Destination: C59 Delavan WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.