# NTSB WPR26LA240: Bellanca 17-30A, N501CR, Santa Paula, CA, June 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2026, 12:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Santa Paula, CA - Coordinates: 34.35545, -119.03677 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3554&lon=-119.0368&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - Van Nuys FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203288/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203288 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after flying most of the cross-country flight with the fuel selector set to the right fuel tank, he entered an extended downwind for landing at the destination airport. Just before turning base, the right fuel tank became empty and the engine stopped. He immediately turned the fuel selector to the left tank and attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He reported hearing the stall warning horn before the airplane “dropped out from under” him and impacted a dry riverbed, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that his improper fuel management resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. He further remarked that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N501CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N501CR), registered now, S/N 73-30607, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A (A) - 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: 73-30607 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2025 - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: SZP, Santa Paula, CA - Airport: KSZP, Santa Paula - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2025; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 519 total, 267 in this make and model, 454 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCMA, 9 nm away - METAR: SPECI KCMA 271950Z 22007G14KT 10SM BKN029 BKN034 BKN042 22/14 A2996 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260627008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260627008459A), Jun 27, 2026: Bl17-Bellanca 17-30A, Santa Paula, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft [privacy data omitted], Bellanca 17-30A, attempted to land at Santa Paula Airport (s); however, the aircraft depleted all of its fuel from the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203288. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20733157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Signed%20-%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident airplane photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 518 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20878699&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA240%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20759129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC-Pilot-WPR26LA240_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.