Bellanca 17-30A accident near Clifton, Texas, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N28008, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clifton, Texas (Clifton airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1983 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Clifton, Texas · Clifton · 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
- N28008 · no longer on the register · serial 78-30868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE PLT SAW 2 BUZZARDS & ADDED POWER WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID THEEM, THEN CONTINUED THE APCH. THIS RESULTED IN LANDING BEYOND THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE MIDDLE OF THE RWY WAS HIGHER THAN EITHER END; THEREFORE, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO SEE A LARGE CANINE THAT WAS MOVING TOWARD THE LANDING AREA UNTIL THE ACFT WAS ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RWY. A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED, BUT AS THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED, THE WHEELS CONTACTED TREETOPS NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST IN A MILO FIELD ABOUT 250 YDS FROM THE INITIAL TREE IMPACT AFTER FLYING THRU ADDITIONAL TREES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,629 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 1,520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 931 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F72 Fort Worht TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.