Bellanca 14-19 accident near Hays, Kansas, May 9, 1982
On May 9, 1982 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-19, registered N501A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hays, Kansas. It was a ferry 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 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
- May 9, 1982 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hays, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19 · all 14-19s on the register
- Registration
- N501A · registry record · serial 2054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT IN IOWA AND HAD OBTAINED A FERRY PERMIT TO FLY IT TO HIS HOME IN CALIFORNIA. IN THE VICINITY OF HAYS, KANSAS, THE FUEL TANK HE WAS USING RAN DRY. HE SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TANK, TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE. WITH FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK, THE BOOST PUMP OPERATING AND THE PILOT ALSO OPERATING THE WOBBLE PUMP, HE WAS UNABLE TO BUILD UP FUEL PRESSURE. HE MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD WITH ABOUT 30 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. AN INSPECTION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DAMAGE TO THE FUEL 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
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-435A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wanerly IA
- Destination: Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from RSL, 40 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.
Other NTSB records under N501A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.