Bellanca 17-30A accident near Bishop, California, September 17, 1984
On September 17, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N14728, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bishop, California (Bishop airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 17, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bishop, California · Bishop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N14728 · no longer on the register · serial 75-30741
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE BELLANCA SAID HE SAW A SAILPLANE IN FRONT OF HIM IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND PULLED UP TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE BELLANCA STALLED AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PARTIALLY RECOVERED 500 FT BEFORE GROUND CONTACT, THE PLT SAID HE CUT THE ENGINE AND LANDED OFF THE ARPT IN 4 FT HIGH BRUSH WHERE IT LEFT A 62 FT GROUND SCAR. FROM WITNESS ACCOUNTS THE SAILPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH AND THE BELLANCA ON BASE.
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: 880 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 989 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 1984; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 207 Independence CA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: BIH Bishop CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,601 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from BIH
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.
Other NTSB records under N14728 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.