Bellanca 17-30A accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, November 3, 1986
On November 3, 1986 at about 1:46 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N93495, was destroyed in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Pulliam airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 3, 1986 · about 1:46 am local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Pulliam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N93495 · no longer on the register · serial 73-30604
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & HIS WIFE DESIRED TO RETURN TO THEIR FLAGSTAFF, AZ, HOME FOLLOWING A WEEKEND AT STOCKTON, CA., & THEY DEPARTED SCK IN VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION ARPT HAD BEEN BELOW VFR MINIMUMS ALL MORNING & IT WAS FORECAST TO REMAIN POOR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. THE PLT DID NOT REQUEST A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, & HE DID NOT REQUEST WEATHER FROM ANY FACILITY WHILE ENROUTE. AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 3.5 HRS & APPROACHING FLG, IFR WEATHER WAS ENCOUNTERED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WAS AN HR PAST SUNSET & THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT. THE FLG CONTROLLER REPORTED HE NEVER SAW THE ACFT & HE NEVER ISSUED THE PLT A CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE CONTROL ZONE. THE PLT COLLIDED WITH TREES & TERRAIN 4 MI WEST OF FLG WHILE DESCENDING AT A 60 DEG ANGLE IN A 40 DEG BANK. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT ENG. DUE TO THE ACFT DAMAGE, THE FLT CONTROL CONTINUITY COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED.
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: 602 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCK Stockton CA at 9:47 pm
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from FLG, 4 miles away
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.