Bellanca BL-17-30A accident near Roanoke, Texas, September 27, 2004
On September 27, 2004 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, registered N28086, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Texas. 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 disconnection of the engine mixture control cable due to improper maintenance which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2004 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-17-30A
- Registration
- N28086 · registry record · serial 79-30929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,531 hour private pilot reported that during takeoff, the single-engine airplane seemed to be performing well; however, approximately 100-200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine started to lose power. The pilot stated that "while the engine did not completely stop, there was not enough power to maintain flight." The pilot then executed a forced landing into a rough and uneven field. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the mixture control cable was found disconnected. The cable did not appear to be damaged from the forced landing. The engine was later run with no indication of any mechanical irregularities. The owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been flown 2 hours since its last 100-hour inspection.
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: 1,531 hours in all; 469 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 13, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2004; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Roanoke TX at 11:20 am
- Destination: M04 Covington TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from AFW, 7 miles away
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.