Bellanca BL17-30 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, October 25, 2004
On October 25, 2004 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bellanca BL17-30, registered N4894V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Henderson Executive Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2004 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Henderson Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL17-30
- Registration
- N4894V · no longer on the register · serial 30133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and collided with the airport perimeter fence while landing. The pilot stated that as he approached the vicinity of the airport, he confirmed that the fuel selector was on the left tank. He verified that the cockpit fuel quantity gauge showed about 3/8 of fuel remaining in the left main tank, which he equated to be about 10 gallons. He opted to make a right traffic pattern with the intention to land on runway17R, and kept the fuel selector on the left main tank. While executing a turn onto base leg, about 1/8 mile from the airport, the pilot attempted to add power and the engine lost power. Upon touchdown, the airplane collided with the airport's perimeter fence, damaging the right wing. After egressing the airplane the pilot examined the airplane's fuel tanks. His examination revealed that both the left main and auxiliary fuel tank were empty, with the right main tank having about 18 gallons of fuel remaining. He reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He opined that if the airplane was at a sufficient altitude he would have been able to switch to the right tank and successfully restart the engine.
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: 1,610 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA
- Destination: HND Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.