# NTSB FTW93LA109: Bellanca 17-30A, N4045B, Plainview, TX, March 20, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1993, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Plainview, TX - Coordinates: 31.979354, -102.130805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9794&lon=-102.1308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA109 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S THE IMPROPER FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS AND IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear - collapsed - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis DURING FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED AND FLAPS FULL DOWN. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN FOR 2 HOURS ON THE RIGHT TANK AND THE PILOT HAD SWITCHED TANKS. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES OR ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS LEADING TO THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK WAS FULL, ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1993, at approximately 1330 central standard time, during a forced landing to runway 13 at the Hale County airport, Plainview, Texas, a Bellanca 17-30A airplane, N4045B, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain short of the runway. Minor injuries were sustained by the private pilot and his one passenger. Visual meterological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. During interviews with pilot and passenger by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the facts in this paragraph were stated. The flight originated from the departure airport earlier that day. During the approach at the destination airport, the propeller was "stationary prior to landing." Examination of the accident site and airplane by the FAA inspector revealed the following: The fuel selector valve was "frozen" in the left tank position. The left tank was full of fuel. Unusable fuel from the right tank was estimated as one and one half gallons. No anomalies were noted with the auxiliary fuel pump nor the fuel lines to the engine driven fuel pump. Fuel manifold and manifold lines did not contain fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4045B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4045B-2013-04-17), registration cancelled 2013-04-17, S/N 76-30827, built 1976 (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: 76-30827 - Airframe hours: 1881 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mccann, Michael J. - Registered owner: Mccann, Michael J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1992, 151 hours before - Departed: 5T6, SANTA TERESA, NM - Airport: PVW, Hale County, runway 13, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 231 total, 98 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19930320005689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930320005689A), Mar 20, 1993: Blanca 1730A, Plainview, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit in pattern. Crash landed short of runway. Right fuel tank empty. Pilot claims to have switched tanks. 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.