Bellanca 17-30A accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, February 1, 1984
On February 1, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N4096B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe CO. airport). 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 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 1, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N4096B · no longer on the register · serial 76-30833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT NOTICED THE THROTTLE STICKING ON TAKEOFF AND TRIED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BUT THE THROTTLE WAS BINDING. THE ACFT TOOKOFF AT A BELOW NORMAL SPEED AND HAD TO BE LANDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND & SEVERAL TREES. AN ENGINEER SAID THE THROTTLE FRICTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICEABLE TO THE PLT FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC SAID THE CABLE IS SUPPOSE TO BE INSPECTED ON THE ANNUAL INSPECTION FOR 'FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT'. THE LAST ANNUAL WAS APRX 8 MOS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,981 hours in all; 1,594 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 1,981 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,679 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-KIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: E01 Monahanas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,297 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.