Bellanca 17-31A accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 10, 1995
On July 10, 1995 at about 5:46 am local time, a Bellanca 17-31A, registered N39875, was destroyed in an accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. FACTORS WERE THE NIGHT CONDITION AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1995 · about 5:46 am local time
- Place
- Hot Springs, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31A · all 17-31As on the register
- Registration
- N39875 · no longer on the register · serial 73-32-109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES TO THE INITIAL DEPARTURE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF, AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT TOLD A LINEMAN AT THE AIRPORT THAT HE EXPERIENCED A DROP OF 6 TO 7 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED TO REMOVED THE ENGINE COWLINGS AND WORK ON THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. AFTER REPLACING THE COWLINGS, THE PILOT DID SEVERAL RUNUPS AND HIGH SPEED TAXIS DOWN THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY ONE FLIGHT AROUND THE PATTERN WHILE HIS PASSENGERS WAITED AT THE TERMINAL. THE PASSENGERS WERE REBOARDED AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED. THE PILOT LANDED AT HIS INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT. AFTER REFUELING, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FOR THE FINAL LEG OF THEIR NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 600 FEET PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE SWAGED END OF THE THROTTLE PUSH ROD ASSEMBLY. THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE FRAYED.
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: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HOT at 5:45 am
- Destination: OJC Olathe KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from LIT, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.