# NTSB BFO89FA057: Bellanca 7KCAB, N57417, Berlin, MD, July 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1989, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Berlin, MD
- Coordinates: 38.319152, -75.209648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3192&lon=-75.2096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11462/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA057

## Probable cause

PILOT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE STALL OCCURRED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICKUP A BANNER, BUT MISSED IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. WITNESSES SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SECOND MISS, THE ACFT BEGAN CLIMBING AND TURNED LEFT WITH A BANK ANGLE THAT INCREASED TO 90 DEGREES. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 80 FT AGL, WHEN IT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57417](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57417-1990-01-02), registration cancelled 1990-01-02, S/N 37373 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 373-73
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ocean Aerial Ads Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1989

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 500 total, 350 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBY, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890712022179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890712022179A), Jul 12, 1989: Bbavia 7KCAB, Berlin, MD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Missed banner pick up 3 times. On last attempt,began go around, banked sharply and hit powerline known to pilot.

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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