Bellanca 17-A30 accident near Georgetown, Texas, May 13, 2006
On May 13, 2006 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-A30, registered N93733, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown Municipal Airport). 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2006 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Georgetown Municipal Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-A30 · all 17-A30s on the register
- Registration
- N93733 · no longer on the register · serial 73-30580
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,526-hour commercial pilot reported that he was returning the airplane after the completion of an extensive annual inspection. The pilot reported "topping off" the two main fuel tanks, performing a complete run-up, and finding no anomalies with the airplane's engine and flight controls. During the initial climb-out, while climbing through an altitude of 500 to 600 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he immediately checked the mixture and using the primer was able to momentarily regain engine power. Once again the engine lost power and an attempt to restart proved unsuccessful. While descending, the pilot elected to turn the airplane left towards an open field located northeast of the departure runway. During the forced landing, the airplane struck the tops of several trees, coming to rest on the ground, facing the approach heading. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed both wings separated from the fuselage, the propeller was detached, and the landing gear was broken off. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the weather was reported as wind from 200 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots, 10 statue miles visibility, clear skies, with temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 61 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 29.83 inches of Mercury.
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: 1,526 hours in all; 307 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,462 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,636.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006; 0.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTU Georgetown TX at 9:20 pm
- Destination: 88R Spicewood TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from KGTU, 1 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.