Bellanca 17-30A accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, September 16, 2025
On September 16, 2025 at about 5:31 pm local time, a 1971 Bellanca 17-30A, registered N432DM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2025 · about 5:31 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A, built 1971 · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N432DM · registry record · serial 30413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 16, 2025, about 1132 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N432DM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Moriarty, New Mexico. The pilot receiving instruction was fatally injured and the flight instructor received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot had purchased the airplane about two months before the accident and was flying with a flight instructor to familiarize himself with the airplane. ADS-B data showed the airplane departed Sandia Airpark Estates East Airport (1N1), Edgewood, New Mexico, about 1035. The airplane flew several traffic patterns at 1N1 before departing the traffic pattern, flying about 20 miles north of 1N1, and turning south towards Moriarty Municipal Airport (0E0), Moriarty, New Mexico. The airplane flew one visual approach to runway 26 at 0E0. Following the approach the airplane continued on runway heading for about 2 miles before it started a left descending turn. The data showed that the airplane performed a 180° left turn and descended to about 50-100 ft above ground level (agl). The airplane remained at an altitude between 50 and 100 ft agl on an easterly heading for about 1 mile before it impacted a powerline and terrain. A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest on the west edge of an open field, about 300 ft from the impact point with the powerlines, which were about 40 ft in height. All flight control surfaces were identified at the accident site and flight control continuity was verified from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The left wing exhibited leading edge damage and buckling. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Edgewood NM
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 76°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 23.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from 0E0, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): 11:53 AM 76 °F 45 °F 33 % VAR 3 mph 0 mph 23.98 in 0.0 in Partly Cloudy
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR25FA279.