Bellanca BL-DW-1 accident near Petersberg, Texas, May 19, 1990
On May 19, 1990 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-DW-1, registered N8803E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersberg, Texas (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE RESULT OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH A DUST DEVIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1990 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Petersberg, Texas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-DW-1
- Registration
- N8803E · no longer on the register · serial DW10022-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL. AFTER TRAVELLING ABOUT 600 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED RIGHT OF CENTERLINE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 110 MORE FEET OF ROLL THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND NOSED OVER.
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
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 1,670 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,051 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1989; 173 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-M1B5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.