Bellanca 17-30A accident near Coalinga, California, February 26, 1991
On February 26, 1991 at about 2:15 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N8290R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION AND THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT. THE ROUGH TERRAIN ON WHICH THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1991 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N8290R · registry record · serial 30481
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TO AN AIRPORT 45 NAUTICAL MILES AWAY FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT TO RENEW HIS EXPIRED BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. AFTER COMPLETING THE FLIGHT CHECK THE PILOT TOOK OFF TO RETURN TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE ENGINE FAILED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. AN ENGINE TEST RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 640 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0520K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLG Coalinga CA at 2:10 am
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:55 am from FAT, 45 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.