Bellanca 17-31 ATC accident near Littleton, Massachusetts, October 28, 1983
On October 28, 1983 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31 ATC, registered N6586V, was destroyed in an accident near Littleton, Massachusetts. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- October 28, 1983 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Littleton, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31 ATC · all 17-31 ATCs on the register
- Registration
- N6586V · no longer on the register · serial 31006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE RIGHT WING SEPARATE IN FLIGHT, THE ACFT BANK SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ENTERED A SPIRAL DIVE AND CRASHED INTO A WOODED LOT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING SEPARATION OCCURRED WHEN THE FRONT SPAR LOWER WING ATTACH FITTING PULLED FREE OF THE WING SPAR. THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF WOOD DETERIORATION IN THE LOWER ROOT END SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING FRONT SPAR.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,510 hours in all; 2,200 as pilot in command; 826 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BED
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from BED, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.