Bellanca 17-31 accident near Big Spring, Texas, October 14, 1991
On October 14, 1991 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31, registered N9755E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Spring, Texas (Mc Mahon Wrinkle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FAILED PISTON ROD. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1991 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Big Spring, Texas · Mc Mahon Wrinkle
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31 · all 17-31s on the register
- Registration
- N9755E · no longer on the register · serial 76-31121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DUSK DEPARTURE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED FEET AND TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR LANDING WAS UNSUITABLE. THE PILOT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE ONLY CLEARING AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE WING STUCK A TREE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1991; 194 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KMAF Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 8,803 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.