Bellanca 17-30A accident near Alabaster, Alabama, January 1, 2014
On January 1, 2014 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1973 Bellanca 17-30A, registered N351AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Alabaster, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 2014 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Alabaster, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A, built 1973 · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N351AE · no longer on the register · serial 73-30577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while en route on the approximate 11-mile flight, the engine began to "stumble" and run roughly. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump, but, shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently maneuvered the airplane toward the backyard of a residence. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main fuel tank contained about 10.5 gallons of fuel. About 0.5 gallon of fuel was drained from the left main fuel tank. The auxiliary fuel tank contained no fuel, and the gascolator was absent of fuel. The engine-driven fuel pump line and return fuel line were absent of fuel. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. During a test run, the engine started on the first attempt, accelerated smoothly, and advanced through all power settings with no anomalies observed. Although the airplane's fuel selector was found set to the right main tank position during postaccident examination, based on the lack of fuel in the fuel lines and gascolator, it is likely that it was set to the left main or the auxiliary fuel tank during the flight and moved to the right main tank position just before or after impact.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 656 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 656 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 19, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,261 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 2,235 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKY Bessemer AL at 8:05 pm
- Destination: EET Alabaster AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from EET, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.