No fatalities

Airplane Lands Short of Runway 22, Nose Gear Collapses (N7388V)

Plainview, TX, US

On January 16, 2002, a Bellanca 17-30 (registration N7388V) was involved in an aviation accident near Plainview, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath, which resulted in landing short of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

The airplane landed 12 feet short of runway 22, causing the nose landing gear to collapse upon contacting the runway lip. The aircraft slid down the centerline and came to a stop upright.

Introduction

A pilot reported that he set up the approach to land on runway 22 with the intention of touching down on the numbers. The aircraft was flown in a normal traffic pattern before initiating the flare.

Accident Details

During the landing flare, the airplane touched down approximately 12 feet short of the runway threshold. As a result, the nose landing gear contacted the lip at the approach end of the runway. That impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse.

Outcome

After the nose gear collapsed, the airplane slid down the runway along the centerline and eventually came to a stop upright. No further details about damage, injuries, or other consequences were provided in the report.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Jan 2002 Bellanca 17-30 accident near Plainview, TX?

The airplane landed 12 feet short of runway 22, causing the nose landing gear to collapse upon contacting the runway lip. The aircraft slid down the centerline and came to a stop upright.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jan 2002 Bellanca 17-30 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Jan 2002 involved a Bellanca 17-30, registration N7388V, at Plainview, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath, which resulted in landing short of the runway.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020118X00089. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.