Bellanca 17-31 N73SM
4 June 1993 · Leesport, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 June 1993 at about 19:00 local time, a Bellanca 17-31 registered N73SM, operated by Kendell & Cary Hilton, was involved in an accident near Leesport, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Leesport, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.4396, -75.9592
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31
- Registration
- N73SM
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Kendell & Cary Hilton
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC93LA099
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, WHICH RESULTED IN FORCED LANDING AND COLLISION WITH TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A TEST FLIGHT AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 600 FEET THE ENGINE LOST COMPLETE POWER AFTER THE PILOT REDUCED POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES. THE FAA FOUND APPROXIMATELY 25 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT WING TANK AND FUEL SATURATION IN THE GROUND NEAR THE RUPTURED LEFT FUEL TANK. THE FAA SUCCESSFULLY TEST RAN THE ENGINE AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bellanca 17 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1993 | Bellanca 17-30A | Plainview, Texas, United States | McCann, Michael J. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1993 | Bellanca 17-31ATC | Jackson Hole, Wyoming, United States | Williams, William Z. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 1993 | Bellanca 17-30A | Hilton Head Is, South Carolina, United States | Panas, William R. | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1993 | Bellanca 17-31A | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | Michaud, LEO C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 1993 | Bellanca 17-30A | Lagrange, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Sep 1993 | Bellanca 17-30 | Blakesburg, Iowa, United States | Herreid, JON D. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-28-161 | Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, United States | Air Atlantic Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 1993 | Cessna 172 | Towanda, Pennsylvania, United States | Glenn E. Murphy | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1993 | Schweizer SGS2-33A | Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, United States | PGH Soaring Club Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1993 | Sterner SUPER CAT | Cherryville, Pennsylvania, United States | Kerry John Sterner | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1993 | Cessna 402B | Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, United States | Freight Runners Express Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 May 1993 | McMillin FISHER 404 | Wampum, Pennsylvania, United States | James McMillin | No injuries | - |