Bellanca 17-31ATC accident near Walsh, Colorado, May 9, 1982
On May 9, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31ATC, registered N4050B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walsh, Colorado (Griffin airport). It was a business 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
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
- May 9, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Walsh, Colorado · Griffin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31ATC · all 17-31ATCs on the register
- Registration
- N4050B · no longer on the register · serial 31101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK LARGE PIPES THAT WERE LAYING ON THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD RUN SATISFACTORLY AS LONG AS THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP WAS ON. WHEN THE BOOST PUMP WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD CEASE TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP (TITAN, MODEL G6, SN: 575587W) WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUEL PRESSURE TO SUSTAIN ENGINE OPERATION. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE SEALS AND BEARINGS WERE WORN. NO RECORDS OR HISTORY OF THE PUMP COULD BE FOUND.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,416 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540KIE5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKO Walsh CO at 2:55 pm
- Destination: Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.