Bellanca 17-30A accident near Borger, Texas, January 25, 1988
On January 25, 1988 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N8250R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Borger, Texas (Hutchinson County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- January 25, 1988 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Borger, Texas · Hutchinson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N8250R · registry record · serial 20474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN. THE PLT STARTED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY. WHEN HE TURNED OFF THE ELECTRICAL MASTER SWITCH THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. HE IMPACTED A HEAVY CABLE DURING THE OFF-AIRPORT, FORCED LANDING. POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN WELD AT THE REAR OF THE LEFT MUFFLER. HEAT FROM THE LEFT MUFFLER MELTED THE INSULATION ON THE 'P' LEADS TO THE MAGNETOS, GROUNDED THEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE.
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: 3,145 hours in all; 1,717 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 2,945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,068 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: J & W Operating CO.
The flight
- Departed from: BGD at 10:16 pm
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,898 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.