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Accidents · NTSB LAX84LA181 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Bellanca 14-13-2 accident near Rialto, California, February 17, 1984

On February 17, 1984 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-13-2, registered N74490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rialto, California. 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 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
February 17, 1984 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 1984
Place
Rialto, California · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Bellanca 14-13-2 · all 14-13-2s on the register
Registration
N74490 · registry record · serial 1306
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT THEN MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY & THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MAY HAVE TAKEN OFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITION TO THE LEFT TANK, THEN REPOSITIONED IT TO THE RIGHT TANK AFTER THE ENG LOST POWER. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS OBSERVED IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

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: 1,025 hours in all; 1,025 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,952 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1983
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Franklin 6A-335-B1 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: L67 Rialto CA at 6:43 pm
  • Destination: RAL Riverside CA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 100 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX84LA181.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.