- Date
- July 19, 1997, 12:22 local (16:22 UTC)
- Place
- Bunnell, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4138YBellanca 8GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970719018959A
- Case key
- 3877
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to ensure the airplane had adequate airspeed for banner pickup/towing operations, which resulted in a stall/mush and subsequent contact with the terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While attempting to pick up a banner for towing operations, the airplane stalled and subsequently collided with the ground. The pilot stated that after picking up the banner, he was looking outside the airplane and not at the instrument panel, when the stall occurred, not knowing he was at minimum airspeed. He stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. Witnesses stated that the aircraft stalled as soon as it hooked the banner.
Factual narrative
On July 19, 1997, about 1222 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N4138Y, collided with the ground while attempting to pick up a banner for towing operations at the Flagler County Airport, Bunnell, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local banner towing flight. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was departing at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated after picking up the banner, he was looking outside the airplane and not at the instrument panel when the stall occurred, not knowing he was at minimum airspeed. He stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. Witnesses stated to the FAA that the aircraft stalled as soon as it hooked the banner and became airborne.
On July 23, 1997, the pilot/owner were sent a NTSB Form 6120.1/2. As of the date of this report, the form had not been completed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4138Y
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 235-76
- Airframe hours
- 3,080
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wlw Aerial Specialist Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 26, 1997 · 66 hours before
- Departed
- X47
- Airport
- X47 · Flagler County, runway 6, 5,020 × 110 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 675 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 19 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.