# NTSB WPR25FA279: Bellanca 17-30A, N432DM, Moriarty, NM, September 16, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: September 16, 2025, 11:31 local (17:31 UTC)
- Place: Moriarty, NM
- Coordinates: 34.967591, -106.04907
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9676&lon=-106.0491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25FA279
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201016/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA279

## Preliminary report

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.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N432DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N432DM), registered now, S/N 30413, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30413
- Year built: 1971
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Departed: Edgewood, NM
- Airport: 0E0, Moriarty Muni

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 76 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 23.98 inHg
- Observed at: 0E0, 3 nm away
- METAR: 11:53 AM	76 °F	45 °F	33 %	VAR	3 mph	0 mph	23.98 in	0.0 in	Partly Cloudy

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250916020919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250916020919A), Sep 16, 2025: Bellanca 17-30A, Moriarty, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On September 16, 2025, at about 1131 local time Bellanca 17-30A super viking was performing flight training when it lost power striking powerlines and impacted…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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