Bellanca BL-26 accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 17, 1996
On September 17, 1996 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-26, registered N66PG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowling Green, Kentucky (Bowling Green Warren 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 improper fuel consumption calculations and fuel exhaustion, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1996 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Kentucky · Bowling Green Warren · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-26
- Registration
- N66PG · no longer on the register · serial 30057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while approaching the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport, the engine lost power, and subsequently, the airplane crashed into a corn field 10 miles south of the airport. An examination of the airplane revealed two gallons of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the auxiliary fuel tank and about 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank. There was no evidence of fuel leakage or damage to surrounding foliage. The fuel selector was found selected on the left fuel tank.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EDN Enterprise AL at 1:50 pm
- Destination: BWG KY
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:23 pm from BWG, 10 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.