Bellanca 17-30A accident near Midland, Texas, April 6, 1995
On April 6, 1995 at about 7:16 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N6700V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Midland International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1995 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N6700V · no longer on the register · serial 30291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AT A SPEED OF 60 TO 70 MPH, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A VASI LIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DUE TO THE 'PIN CONNECTING THE SCISSOR YOKE ON THE NOSE GEAR' COMING OUT DURING TAKEOFF. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO FLY THE PLANE AFTER IT WAS RETURNED TO RENTAL SERVICE FOLLOWING A LANDING GEAR REPAIR. HOWEVER, AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE PLANE HAD BEEN TEST FLOWN TWICE WITH NO DISCREPANCIES REPORTED. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR TORQUE LINKS BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED SIGNATURES INDICATING THAT THE CONNECTING BOLT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE LINKS WERE DAMAGED DURING IMPACT.
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: 135 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1994; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVW Plainview TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,302 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from MAF
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.