Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Estes Park, Colorado, July 31, 2004
On July 31, 2004 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N1251R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Estes Park, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain for landing and the mailbox posts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2004 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Estes Park, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N1251R · no longer on the register · serial 4340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he had just leveled off at his initial cruising altitude of 10,500 feet msl when the engine "sputtered a little bit." He enriched the mixture and the engine "ran fine for approximately five seconds, then quit." Despite remedial action, the pilot was unable to restore engine power. He squawked 7700 on the transponder and transmitted a mayday call on the emergency radio frequency, then made a forced landing on a road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck several mail box posts, crushing the outboard portion of the left wing leading edge. The engine was later functionally tested. No anomalies were noted. Pressurizing each wing tank fuel supply line revealed no 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: 1,153 hours in all; 994 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,078 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,920 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2003; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 2:09 pm
- Destination: RWL Rawlins WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from BJC, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.