Bellanca 14-13 accident near Coalinga, California, June 17, 1984
On June 17, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-13, registered N74431, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch airport). 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
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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-13 · all 14-13s on the register
- Registration
- N74431 · registry record · serial 1544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS #2 BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS SO INTENT ON THE ACFT AHEAD (TAXIING OFF THE RWY) THAT HE HAD DECIDED TO GO AROUND. HE THEN CHANGED HIS MIND & DECIDED TO LAND INSTEAD. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY. HE REPORTED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HIT AN IRRIGATION PIPE & FAILED. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE ACFT BEGAN VEERING RIGHT & THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ALSO FAILED.
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: 410 hours in all; 249 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 334 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 005 Davis CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 308 Coalinga CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.