Bellanca 17-31ATC accident near Gallup, New Mexico, April 4, 1984
On April 4, 1984 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-31ATC, registered N4166B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Senator Clarke airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- April 4, 1984 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Senator Clarke · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-31ATC · all 17-31ATCs on the register
- Registration
- N4166B · no longer on the register · serial 75-31117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FERRYING HIS RECENTLY PURCHASED ACFT. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ROSE MOMENTARILY, THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RWY. THE PLT SAID HE THEN HAD A DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM AND THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. HE BLAMED THE RISE AND FALL ON A 'GUST OR SHEAR.' IN HIS 1ST TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW HE SAID THAT THE WIND ON RWY 24 WAS FROM THE LEFT (10-12 KTS). A WRITTEN REPORT HE STATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 270 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING TO 15 KTS. THE GALLUP FSS REPORTED THE WIND AS CALM. THE PLT HAD MADE 4 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. DURING THIS OCCURRENCE THE MAIN GEAR WAS TORN OFF, THE PROP DAMAGED AND A FUSELAGE STRINGER BROKEN.
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: 433 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,785 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 15, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-K1E5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.