Bellanca 7ECA accident near Throckmorton, Texas, January 11, 1984
On January 11, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N8646, was destroyed in an accident near Throckmorton, Texas. It was an aerial observation 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 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
- January 11, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Throckmorton, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N8646 · no longer on the register · serial 919-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP LEFT WING DOWN, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE FLT HAD BEEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHECKING OUT THE FRONT SEAT PLT ON PIPE LINE PATROL. THE FRONT SEAT PLT HAD ONLY 22 HRS IN THIS MAKE & MODEL. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF EQUIPMENT OR PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PLTS WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THERE ARE NOKNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 1 HOUR SINCE REFUELING WHEN IT CRASHED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,267 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ONY Olney TX at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from ABI, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.