Bellanca 17-31A accident near Cozad, Nebraska, July 28, 1985
On July 28, 1985 at about 3:06 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31A, registered N6598V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cozad, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 28, 1985 · about 3:06 pm local time
- Place
- Cozad, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31A · all 17-31As on the register
- Registration
- N6598V · no longer on the register · serial 32-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING A DESCENT TO LAND AT KEARNEY, NE, THE ENG LOST POWER & OIL OOZED OUT OF THE COWLING & COVERED MOST OF THE WINDSHIELD. DURING A FORCED LANDING APCH, HE RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT SO HE COULD SEE THRU A SMALL SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE PLT NOTED POWER LINES DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE DOVE THE ACFT TO AVOID THE POWER LINES. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BOUNCED & CAME TO REST IN A SOYBEAN FIELD ABOUT 200 FT BEYOND THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A #2 CONNECTING ROD BOLT & THE RESPECTIVE ROD CAP HAD FAILED. THE #2 ROD HAD THEN PUNCTURED THE ENG CASE WHICH ALLOWED ENG OIL TO ESCAPE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,164 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPF Spearfish SD at 12:10 pm
- Destination: EAR Kearney NE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from BBW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.