Bellanca BL17-30A accident near Brownfield, Texas, July 6, 1999
On July 6, 1999, a Bellanca BL17-30A, registered N9520E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownfield, Texas (Terry County 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 pilot's inadvertent stall while attempting to clear powerlines. Factors were the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot's improper use of the fuel tank selector.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1999
- Place
- Brownfield, Texas · Terry County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL17-30A
- Registration
- N9520E · no longer on the register · serial 76-30805
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled as the pilot pulled up to clear powerlines following a loss of engine power on final approach. The left wing of the airplane dropped abruptly, and the airplane nosed down impacting the ground in a left wing low attitude, approximately 100 yards short of the landing threshold. The pilot estimated that he had approximately 40 gallons of fuel prior to departing on the 35-nautical mile flight. The pilot reported to a local law enforcement officer that the engine lost power on final approach and 'he was not quick enough to switch the fuel selector to the other tank.' Examination of the fuel system by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane was equipped with an extended range fuel system which encompassed a total of 7 fuel cells, with 3 cells in each wing and a fuselage tank aft of the baggage compartment. Most of the fuel cells were compromised during impact and evidence of spilled fuel was found on the ground.
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: 278 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1998; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBB Lubbock TX at 11:45 pm
- Destination: Q26
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,218 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from LBB, 35 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.