Bellanca 17-30 accident near Newberg, Oregon, October 30, 1989
On October 30, 1989, a Bellanca 17-30, registered N4133B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberg, Oregon (Twin Oaks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE BIRDS & DEBRIS (HIDDING OBSTRUCTIONS) WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 1989
- Place
- Newberg, Oregon · Twin Oaks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30 · all 17-30s on the register
- Registration
- N4133B · registry record · serial 75-30795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A NARROW RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH BIRDS. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY APPLIED LEFT RUDDER & THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF OF THE RUNWAY. AS THE PLT WAS COMPLETING THE LANDING ROLL IN GRASS NEAR THE RUNWAY, THE ACFT HIT CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS & WAS DAMAGED.
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: 204 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Friday Harbor WA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,100 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.