Bellanca BL-17-30A accident near Sylacauga, Alabama, March 4, 2001
On March 4, 2001 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, registered N8844V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sylacauga, Alabama (Merkel Sylacagua 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 during landing rollout, and the subsequent runway excursion and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 2001 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sylacauga, Alabama · Merkel Sylacagua · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-17-30A
- Registration
- N8844V · no longer on the register · serial 30368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Tfhe aircraft landed runway 27 in winds that were being reported as from 230-degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The aircraft touched down and immediately began leaving rubber streaks on the runway from all three tires. The aircraft departed the runway surface at about a 45-degree angle, and collided with trees located about 50 feet from the runway edge. Postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed no precrash mechanical malfunctions of the steering system or braking system.
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
- Last flight review: December 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,649 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOB Mobile AL at 3:45 pm
- Destination: SCD Sylacauga AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,390 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ANB, 39 miles away
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.