Bellanca 17-30A accident near Taylor, Missouri, May 27, 2000
On May 27, 2000 at about 2:00 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N136EL, was destroyed in an accident near Taylor, Missouri (Haerr Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
flight into known adverse weather conditions and the altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot. An additional cause was the improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. Contributing factors were the weather below approach/landing minimums, night conditions, the pilot's lack of total instrument time and fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2000 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Taylor, Missouri · Haerr Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N136EL · no longer on the register · serial 30434
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot began preparations for his personal flight at 0630 eastern daylight (EDT) time, which departed from Orlando, Florida at 1000 EDT. The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a visual approach into an uncontrolled airstrip in night instrument meteorological conditions near Taylor, Missouri at 2100 central daylight time. The 2,865 foot turf airstrip was not served by an approved instrument approach procedure. The private pilot was not instrument rated. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 193 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M25 Mayfield KY
- Destination: K04
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,865 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 140°F (60°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from UIN, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N136EL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.