Bellanca 17-30A accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 7, 1992
On March 7, 1992 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N39866, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL PHASE OF A TOUCH AND GO.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1992 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe · 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
- N39866 · no longer on the register · serial 73-30528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 250 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WAS EXECUTING THE SECOND TOUCH AND GO LANDING OF THE DAY ON RUNWAY 33. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 360 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS ON HIS TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT, EVENTUALLY DEPARTING THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH A MARKING SIGN. AFTER IMPACT, THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1991; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,304 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.