Bellanca 17-30 accident near Plainview, Texas, May 17, 1984
On May 17, 1984 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N7393V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainview, Texas (Hale County airport). It was an other work-use 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 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
- May 17, 1984 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plainview, Texas · Hale County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7393V · no longer on the register · serial 30242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TLT LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ACFT JUST CAME OUT OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT A FUEL LEAK WAS FOUND WHERE THE MAIN INLET FUEL LINE CONNECTS TO THE FUEL INJECTOR DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MUCH FUEL WAS LOST FROM THE LEAK. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK WHICH WAS FOUND EMPTY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,192 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 5,070 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.