Bellanca 17-30A accident near Belen, New Mexico, January 13, 1996
On January 13, 1996 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N4109B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Field). It was a personal 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
previous damage, looseness of the main landing gear, and inadequate maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1996 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N4109B · registry record · serial 75-30760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had purchased the airplane on 12/14/95 and had flown it about 23 hours since that date. During that time, he noted a transient instability in directional control during landing roll. During a landing on 1/13/96, he could not maintain directional control after touchdown, and the aircraft departed the side of the runway. No damage was found as a result of the runway departure; however, damage to the wing structure was found adjacent to the left main landing gear attach point. Also, the right main landing gear was found loose in its mounts, and its torque link was improperly shimmed. The right main landing gear problems could be found only by jacking the aircraft with the gear hanging free. There was evidence that over an undetermined period of time, the landing gear had been loose, and the resultant damage occurred.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 317 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1995; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.