Bellanca 17-31A accident near Eugene, Oregon, March 19, 1992
On March 19, 1992 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31A, registered N8266R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eugene, Oregon (Mahlon Sweet Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IMPROPER FUEL BOOST PUMP SELECTOR POSITION, AND INCORRECT PROCEDURES. FACTORS INCLUDE AN IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION, AND FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1992 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Eugene, Oregon · Mahlon Sweet Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31A · all 17-31As on the register
- Registration
- N8266R · no longer on the register · serial 32-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE BELLANCA 17-31A WAS ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND THE FUEL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO. AT THAT TIME HE WAS BURNING FUEL OUT OF THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK (THE FLIGHT MANUAL DIRECTS PILOTS TO USE ONLY THE MAIN TANKS FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING, AND SAYS TO USE THE AUXILIARY TANKS IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY). HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY SWITCHING TO ONE OF THE MAIN TANKS. WHEN THIS WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL HE THEN SWITCHED TO THE OTHER MAIN TANK. WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, HE LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD, BUT FLIPPED OVER ON LANDING ROLL AFTER HITTING A DITCH. THE PILOT DID NOT ACTIVATE THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP AS CALLED FOR BY THE FLIGHT MANUAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER THE FUEL PRESSURE IS LOST.
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: 357 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD Portland OR at 5:20 pm
- Destination: EUG Eugene OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,202 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.