Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Graham, Texas, February 12, 1993
On February 12, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N8876R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Graham, Texas (Graham Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER POSITION OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST AND 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
- February 12, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Graham, Texas · Graham Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N8876R · no longer on the register · serial 4238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER EXPERIENCING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN COVERED WITH HEAVY BRUSH AND TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT WING TANK POSITION. THE RIGHT WING TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY WHILE THE OTHER TWO TANKS WERE NEARLY FULL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT REMEMBER SWITCHING TO THE FULLEST MAIN TANK BEFORE LANDING.
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: 219 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 23, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21XS Big Spring TX at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from MWL, 31 miles away
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.