Bellanca 17-30 accident near Star, North Carolina, December 2, 1998
On December 2, 1998 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N4789V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Star, North Carolina (Montgomery County airport). 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
The failure of the pilot to use proper short-field landing procedure, resulting in an extended flare and touchdown by the nose wheel and right main wheel simultaneously, and the subsequent loss of directional control 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
- December 2, 1998 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Star, North Carolina · Montgomery County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N4789V · no longer on the register · serial 30079
- 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 he performed a short field approach, had completed his flare with his main wheels on the runway when, upon lowering the nose wheel to the runway the airplane veered off the left side. The excursion continued into the grass for about 100 feet until collision with trees. Examination of the runway by an FAA Inspector revealed that tire skid marks showed at least three separate touchdowns, and that the first touchdown was with the nose wheel only. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would cause directional control difficulties.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 101 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1998; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNX Smithfield NC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 43A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from SOP, 21 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.