Bellanca 17-30 accident near Fort Ord, California, June 1, 1991
On June 1, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N4SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Ord, California. 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
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Ord, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N4SH · registry record · serial 30009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BELLANCA 17-30 WAS FORCED TO LAND AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE CRUISE CLIMB. THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AFTER TAKEOFF DURING THE FUEL TO AIR MIXTURE LEANING PROCEDURE. AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN COASTAL WATERS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN JUST OUTSIDE OF THE SURF. THE AIRPLANE SANK IN SHALLOW WATER. SAND AND SALT WATER WAS INGESTED IN THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE AND WINGS. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY THE FAA. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION. THE REASON FOR THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 2,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,253 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1991; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flame Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: WVI Watsonville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from MRY, 2 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.