Bellanca 17-30A N39821

Summary

On 22 May 2005 at about 05:45 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N39821 was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 2005 at 05:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.8175, -95.6703

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30A

Registration

N39821

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Corpus Christie → Houston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05CA128

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel and his inadequate monitoring of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before the 470-hour private pilot departed on a night cross-country flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, but he did not visually check the fuel quantity in each of the four wing fuel tanks. However, the fuel gauges indicated that the tanks were full for a total of 72 gallons. The 1-hour and 15-minute flight was normal until the airplane was on final approach to the destination airport. At an altitude of 800 feet above ground level, the engine stopped producing power and the pilot made a forced landing to a golf course. Examination of the airplane revealed that four wing fuel tanks were intact, and there was no fuel in the left wing tanks or the right main tank. However, the right auxiliary tank was full. The main fuel selector handle was found set to the RIGHT MAIN tank, and the auxiliary fuel selector handle was found set to the FUSELAGE position. In addition, there was no evidence of any fuel spillage or spoilage of vegetation on or around the airplane. Due to the extent of impact damage, the fuel system could not be pressurized and checked for leaks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.