Bellanca BL-17-30 accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri, August 15, 1993
On August 15, 1993 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Bellanca BL-17-30, registered N4846V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri (Lee'S Summit Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper maintenance which resulted in a disconnected throttle lever linkage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1993 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, Missouri · Lee'S Summit Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL-17-30
- Registration
- N4846V · no longer on the register · serial 30101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A RECURRENT TRAINING FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR COMMANDED THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO AROUND BECAUSE AN AIRPPANE WAS ON THE RUNWAY OF INTENDED USE. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED POWER, RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS. HE STATED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND HE OBSERVED THE TACHOMETER DISPLAYING 1,400 RPM. DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD A RUNWAY WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE RIGHT OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S WING SEPARATED DURING THE COLLISION. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FORK WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE ARM OF THE FUEL CONTROL. THE BOLT, NUT, AND COTTER KEY WERE NOT FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE AIRPLANE'S FIRST FLIGHT SINCE COMING OUT OF LONG TERM MAINTENANCE.
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: 425 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Observation at 3:55 pm from GVW, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
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.