Bellanca 17-30A accident near Pampa, Texas, February 13, 2001
On February 13, 2001 at about 2:15 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N1256R, was destroyed in an accident near Pampa, Texas (Perry Lefors Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the dark night and the fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2001 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Pampa, Texas · Perry Lefors Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N1256R · registry record · serial 30396
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to air traffic control, 20 miles prior to the intended destination, the pilot terminated VFR flight following for the night cross-country flight. About 4 hours later, the destination airport manager was notified of an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) transmitting in the vicinity. A check of the airport did not locate the ELT. A continuing search for the ELT resulted in finding of the accident airplane approximately 1.8 miles east of the airport. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the ground and traveled 505 feet before coming to rest. The engine separated from the fuselage and traveled for 693 feet before coming to rest. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident; however, fog was reported in the area at the time of the accident. The non-instrument rated private pilot received a preflight briefing about 12 hours before the flight. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during the post accident examination of the airplane. The last logged night flight was on January 14, 2001, and the last logged simulated instrument conditions flight was on November 7, 1999. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute toxicology report noted 7.65 (mg/dl, mg/hg) acetaminophen was detected in urine. Chlorpheniramine was detect in blood and urine. According to the FAA Southwest Regional Flight Surgeon, chlorpheniramine is found in allergy and cold preparations. It is sometimes combined with acetaminophen (Tylenol). It may cause significant drowsiness, therefore, it is not recommended for use while performing safety-sensitive activities.
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
- Last flight review: September 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,652 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Destination: PPA Pampa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,864 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from BGD, 25 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW01FA065.