Bellanca 14-19-3A accident near Selfridge, North Dakota, February 22, 1982
On February 22, 1982 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, registered N8869R, was destroyed in an accident near Selfridge, North Dakota. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1982 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- Selfridge, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3A · all 14-19-3As on the register
- Registration
- N8869R · no longer on the register · serial 4231
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE PREVIOUS DAY THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING FOR THE FLT. HE WAS ADVISED THE WX WOULD BE MARGINAL VFR IN THE BISMARCK AREA IN THE MORNING DUE TO LOW CEILINGS & SNOW. THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE PLT RECEIVED AN UPDATED WX BRIEFINGPRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PLT DEPARTED BISMARCK AT APPROXIMATELY 0902 WITH A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 55 MI SSW OF BISMARCK. THE ABOVE WX WAS THE BISMARCK 0951 OBSERVATION. THE DESTINATION WX AT 1008 WAS THIN OBSCURATION, 200 FT BROKEN WITH VISIBILITY 1/4 MI IN FOG.
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: 1,145 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 1,145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,270 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: BIS Bismarck ND at 9:02 am
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.