Bellanca 17-30A accident near Houston, Texas, May 22, 2005
On May 22, 2005 at about 5:45 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N39821, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel and his inadequate monitoring of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2005 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N39821 · no longer on the register · serial 73-30494
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the 470-hour private pilot departed on a night cross-country flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, but he did not visually check the fuel quantity in each of the four wing fuel tanks. However, the fuel gauges indicated that the tanks were full for a total of 72 gallons. The 1-hour and 15-minute flight was normal until the airplane was on final approach to the destination airport. At an altitude of 800 feet above ground level, the engine stopped producing power and the pilot made a forced landing to a golf course. Examination of the airplane revealed that four wing fuel tanks were intact, and there was no fuel in the left wing tanks or the right main tank. However, the right auxiliary tank was full. The main fuel selector handle was found set to the RIGHT MAIN tank, and the auxiliary fuel selector handle was found set to the FUSELAGE position. In addition, there was no evidence of any fuel spillage or spoilage of vegetation on or around the airplane. Due to the extent of impact damage, the fuel system could not be pressurized and checked for leaks.
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: 470 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corpus Christie TX
- Destination: IWS Houston TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.