Bellanca 17-30A accident near Olton, Texas, January 26, 1991
On January 26, 1991 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N4035B, was destroyed in an accident near Olton, Texas (Del-Tex airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRFRAME AND THE PERFORMANCE OF AEROBATICS AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1991 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Olton, Texas · Del-Tex · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N4035B · no longer on the register · serial 74-30720
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/MECHANIC HAD JUST COMPLETED AN ANNUAL 100 HOUR INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, A BELLANCA 17 30A SUPER VIKING, AND THIS WAS TO BE A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT PRIOR TO DELIVERY TO ITS OWNER, HIS BROTHER. ONE WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE MOMENTARILY IN A SLIGHT CLIMB AT ABOUT 1500 FEET AGL. WHEN HE SAW THE AIRPLANE AGAIN, IT WAS ABOUT 500 FEET AGL IN A NEAR VERTICAL DIVE. TWO SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, THE RIGHT WING FOLDED BACK BUT DID NOT SEPARATE. HIS IMPRESSION WAS THE PILOT HAD DONE A SPLIT S OR WING OVER. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 15 DEGREES PAST VERTICAL WITH THE RIGHT WING SHEARED OFF. THE PILOT, A FORMER AERIAL APPLICATOR, HAD BUILT AND REPORTEDLY PERFORMED AEROBATICS IN A PITTS S 2S SPECIAL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,955 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TS42 Olton TX at 10:10 pm
- Destination: PVW Plainview TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.