Bellanca 17-30A accident near Plainview, Texas, March 20, 1993
On March 20, 1993 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N4045B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainview, Texas (Hale County airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S THE IMPROPER FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS AND IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1993 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Plainview, Texas · Hale 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
- N4045B · no longer on the register · serial 76-30827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED AND FLAPS FULL DOWN. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN FOR 2 HOURS ON THE RIGHT TANK AND THE PILOT HAD SWITCHED TANKS. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES OR ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS LEADING TO THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK WAS FULL, ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR.
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: 231 hours in all; 98 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,881 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1992; 151 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM at 6:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.