Bellanca 17-30A accident near Dallas, Texas, June 26, 1990
On June 26, 1990 at about 2:01 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N6608V, was destroyed in an accident near Dallas, Texas. It was a business 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 INITIAL PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FOLLOWED BY THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE STRIKING OF A HIDDEN SET OF TRANSMISSION WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1990 · about 2:01 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N6608V · no longer on the register · serial 3028
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FLIGHT FROM DALLAS TO TEXARKANA, TEXAS THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED LANDING GEAR PROBLEMS, SO HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO DALLAS RED BIRD AIRPORT. DURING HIS BASE LEG MANEUVERS HIS ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER, HOWEVER, POWER RETURNED MOMENTARILY BUT FAILED COMPLETELY WITHIN SECONDS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A LANDING TO A STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DURING SHORT FINAL THE AIRLPLANE STRUCK A HIDDEN SET OF TRANSMISSION WIRES RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSE GEAR. AFTER THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE WIRES ITS FLIGHT PATH ANGLE AND AIRCRAFT ATTITUDE ALTERED DRAMATICALLY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE IT WAS CONSUMED BY POST CRASH FIRE. NEITHER OCCUPANT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,805 hours in all; 1,429 in this make and model; 5,228 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RBD Dallas TX at 1:35 pm
- Destination: TXK Texarkana TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Observation at 2:02 pm from RBD, 3 miles away
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.