Bellanca 17-31A accident near Ducor, California, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31A, registered N8838V, was destroyed in an accident near Ducor, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1983 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ducor, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31A · all 17-31As on the register
- Registration
- N8838V · no longer on the register · serial 30371
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL AT 1900 FEET MSL WHILE ON A PHOTOGRAPHIC MISSION. THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS STRUCK IS 2412 FEET MSL. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH AND GROUND FIRE FOLLOWING IMPACT. ACCORDING TO HIS SECRETARY HE WAS ON A PHOTOGRAPHING MISSION OF THE BOWEN RANCH AND HILLS ON THE RANCH. THE ACFT COLLIDED IN A STRAIGHT AHEAD LEFT WING DOWN POSITION. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH 50 MILES VISIBILITY AND NO WIND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,765 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1983; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.