Bellanca 17-30A accident near Coushatta, Louisiana, August 21, 1985
On August 21, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N4026B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coushatta, Louisiana (Red River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 21, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coushatta, Louisiana · Red River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N4026B · no longer on the register · serial 75-30728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX 500' AGL. IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT RAN THRU 2 FENCES DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG FUEL PUMP EJECTOR NOZZLE HAD AN 80% BLOCKAGE FROM FOREIGN MATERIAL THAT APPEARED TO BE RUST. RESTRICTION WOULD CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVER-PRESSURIZE AND CAVITATE.
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: 202 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1985; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,225 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 520-K1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.