# NTSB CEN24LA077: Bellanca 17-30A, N678MJ, Washington, MO, December 30, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 30, 2023, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Washington, MO - Coordinates: 38.587583, -90.993806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5876&lon=-90.9938&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Continental Aerospace Technologies - NTSB case key (mKey): 193585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193585/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193585 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA077 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power due to an obstructed fuel vapor return path. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin, which likely increased the severity of the ground impact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel pump](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine start, run-up, and takeoff were without incident. However, shortly after takeoff, the engine completely lost power. In his efforts to avoid trees in the glide path, the airplane inadvertently entered an aerodynamic stall and spin. He was able to recover from the spin but unable to arrest the descent before impacting an open field. The airplane came to rest upright with damage to the fuselage, left wing, and empennage. The pilot reported that about three weeks before the accident a similar loss of engine power event occurred after takeoff. In that instance, he was able to land in the level grass area short of the runway without any damage to the airplane. A mechanic examined the airplane and noted that the diffuser was missing from the muffler. A postrecovery examination did not reveal any anomalies with the engine assembly. However, testing and disassembly of the fuel pump identified a piece of debris within the vapor ejector cavity. Further analysis determined that the material was a rubber fragment from a fuel line. The examination did not observe any indication that diffusers were installed in either the left or right mufflers. The fuel line fragment present in the pump likely traveled into a position in which it blocked the vapor return. This blockage then routed any fuel vapor into the fuel inlet line to the engine and resulted in an interruption of fuel flow due to vapor lock. The airplane maintenance records did not reveal a record of any recent work on the fuel pump or fuel lines. The investigation was unable to determine how the rubber fuel line fragment was introduced into the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2023, about 1415 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A airplane, N678MJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Washington, Missouri. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the engine start and run-up were normal. Similarly, the takeoff was normal, and the pilot reduced to climb power shortly after lifting off. About 400 ft above ground level, as he began a left turn to crosswind, the pilot realized the engine had lost power. As the pilot tightened the turn to avoid trees, the airplane inadvertently entered an aerodynamic stall and a spin. He was able to recover from the spin but unable to arrest the descent before impacting an open field. The airplane came to rest upright with damage to the fuselage, left wing, and empennage. The pilot reported that about three weeks before the accident a similar loss of engine power event occurred after takeoff. In that instance, he was able to land in the level grass area short of the runway without any damage to the airplane. A mechanic examined the airplane and noted that the diffuser (flame cone) was missing from the muffler. A postrecovery examination did not reveal any anomalies with the core engine assembly. Testing of the throttle and control assembly similarly was unremarkable. However, testing of the fuel pump revealed flow rates that did not meet the manufacturer’s specification. Partial disassembly of the unit identified a piece of debris within the vapor ejector cavity. Analysis of the debris by the NTSB Materials Laboratory determined that the material was similar to nitrile rubber commonly used in the construction of fuel lines. The postrecovery examination noted that the engine was equipped with two mufflers, both of which appeared to be intact and securely installed. Neither muffler was equipped with a diffuser, nor were there brackets normally used to support a diffuser within a muffler housing. There was also no evidence of spot welds commonly used to secure the diffuser supports on the muffler housing. The airplane’s maintenance records did not reveal a record of any recent work on the fuel pump or fuel lines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N678MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N678MJ), registered now, S/N 79-30941, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 79-30941 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 2150 - Engines: Continental IO-550-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Piasa LLC, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Piasa LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2023, 10 hours before - Departed: FYG, Washington, MO - Destination: FYG, Washington, MO - Airport: FYG, Washington Regional, runway 33, 5,002 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,349 total, 118 in this make and model, 1,201 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KSUS, 16.8 nm away - METAR: METAR KSUS 302054Z 22008KT 10SM CLR 09/01 A2990 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20231230022589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231230022589A), Dec 30, 2023: Bellanca 17-30A, Washington, MO, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from runway, raised gear, and proceeded to climb out. At about 400' pilot lost engine power. Pilot attempted to turn left and return to the… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193585. 192 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 17.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN24LA077_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 940 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19113335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN24LA077-Rel.pdf - Airplane examination summary (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN24LA077-Rel.pdf - Component examination summary (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 940 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19120450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Summary%20--%20Throttle%20and%20Fuel%20Control%20Unit_Fuel%20Pump%20(CEN24LA077)-Rel.pdf - Materials lab examination summary (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Lab%20Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN24LA077-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- airframe (item 6, PDF, 12 pages, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109512&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 80.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- propeller (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 83.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Propeller_redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19120358&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20--%20CEN24LA077_redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19109192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20--%20CEN24LA077_acknowledged_redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.