Bellanca 17-30A accident near Houston, Texas, July 14, 2000
On July 14, 2000 at about 2:40 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N8263R, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas (West Houston airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during maneuvering. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and 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
- July 14, 2000 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · West Houston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N8263R · no longer on the register · serial 30447
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane, which was on a dark night cross-country flight, neared the destination airport, the pilot radioed the airport's unicom and requested an airport advisory. The pilot was advised that the active runway was 15, with left hand traffic. Approximately 3-5 minutes later, the pilot radioed, "we've lost power requesting emergency landing." The pilot of a helicopter, which was inbound for landing at the airport, stated that he heard the pilot of the accident airplane call the airport's unicom and state that he had "lost all the power." The airplane impacted trees and came to rest in a densely wooded area, approximately 1,400 feet southwest of the approach end of runway 33. The airplane was destroyed by impact damage and fire. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during the post accident examination of the airplane. Disassembly of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of power.
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: 761 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 722 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX
- Destination: IWS TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,955 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 158°F (70°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from SGR, 12 miles away
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.