Bellanca 17-30A N6617V
11 July 1992 · Ortonville, Michigan, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 July 1992 at about 20:26 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N6617V, operated by Loft Air Inc., was involved in an accident near Ortonville, Michigan, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 20:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ortonville, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.8505, -83.4410
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Registration
- N6617V
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Loft Air Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Houghton Lake → Pontiac
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI92LA204
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR SWITCH AND INADEQUATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD JUST CANCELED AN IFR CLEARANCE AND WAS DESCENDING IN VFR CONDITIONS WHEN HE LOST ENGINE POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET AGL. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY TO ATC AND UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE GAVE UP THE RESTART ATTEMPTS AND REMEMBERS THINKING; 'I'VE GOT TO STOP PLAYING WITH IT AND LAND THIS THING.' HE REMEMBERS TURNING THE MAIN FUEL SWITCH OFF JUST BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREETOPS. AN AFTER ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS IN THE AIRFRAME. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE NOTED IN THE ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN INFLIGHT STOPPAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED THE MAIN FUEL SWITCH OFF AND THE SECONDARY AUXILIARY FUEL TANK SELECTOR SWITCH SELECTED TO AN EMPTY AUXILIARY TANK. FUEL WAS PRESENT IN ALL OF THE MAIN FUEL TANKS AND THE OTHER AUXILIARY TANK.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bellanca 17 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1992 | Bellanca 17-30A | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | TIM L. Alton | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1992 | Bellanca 17-30 | Alto, Georgia, United States | Forbes, Joseph D. | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 1992 | Bellanca 17-30A | Graford, Texas, United States | Johnson, Kenneth D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 1992 | Bellanca 17-30A | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | Classic Wings, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Nov 1992 | Bellanca 17-31ATC | Dublin, Texas, United States | Teague, James Edward | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Bellanca 17-30A | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Bjornstad, Lidy A. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Pullman, Michigan, United States | Weber, Tracy T. | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft 95-BE55 | Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States | Stanley P. MacKlin | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Jul 1992 | Cessna 172N | Lake Michigan, Michigan, United States | Battle Creek Air Service, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 12 Sep 1992 | Cessna 150H | Manistee, Michigan, United States | H. Paul Miller | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Jan 1992 | Aerospatiale AS-355F1 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Corporate Jets Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-24-180 | Gaylord, Michigan, United States | John C Myers & Clare R Colwell | Fatal | 2 |