Bellanca 17-30A accident near Sedona, Arizona, August 9, 1992
On August 9, 1992 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N6649V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR TO PROPERLY CONDUCT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND INADEQUATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNION DUE TO FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1992 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N6649V · no longer on the register · serial 30305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR TRUNNION REVEALED A TOTAL FATIGUE FAILURE AROUND THE WELD. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A CRACK ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION.
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: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1992; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.