Bellanca 8GCBC N86985

Summary

On 6 July 2003 at about 18:30 local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC registered N86985 was involved in an accident near Manorville, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 2003 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Manorville, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Brookhaven (HWV)

Coordinates

40.8350, -72.8650

Aircraft

Bellanca 8GCBC

Registration

N86985

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manorville → Shirley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA151

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper airspeed and his delayed remedial action to jettison the banner.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot made a banner pickup and on initial climb, the airplane started to settle. The company owner who witnessed the pickup said he thought the airplane was a little slow at pickup, and told the pilot to jettison the banner. The pilot replied that he was OK and continued. The owner observed the airplane continue to settle in a nose high attitude. When the pilot released the banner, the right wing dipped and the airplane descended into trees. The owner reported that the banner was 30 feet, by 100 feet, and had been towed successfully many times. He also reported that for a successful pickup with the banner, it was critical that the airplane be on speed and not slow.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.