Bellanca 17-30 accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January 29, 1992
On January 29, 1992 at about 1:33 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N4869V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Expressway Airpark airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SECOND PILOT'S (LEFT SEAT) FAILURE TO ATTAIN A POSITIVE RATE-OF-CLIMB DURING AN INSTRUMENT TAKEOFF, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTORS WERE: THE WEATHER, AND THE COPILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME AND TRAINING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1992 · about 1:33 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Expressway Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N4869V · no longer on the register · serial 30115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT-IN-COMMAND, THE LEFT SEAT NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT MADE THE IFR TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO TREES AS THE PIC WAS LOOKING AT A CHART & PUTTING A VOR INTO THE LORAN. THE PIC WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE LEFT SEAT PILOT. TOXICOLOGICAL TEST RESULTS ON THE LEFT SEAT PILOT REVEALED DIPHENHYDRAMINE AND PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE (ANTIHISTAMINES) IN THE URINE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1991; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-540-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sludge Disposal, INC.
The flight
- Destination: VHN Van Horn TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 3,350 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.