# NTSB MIA83LA194: Bellanca 8GCBC, N88477, Panama City, FL, August 1, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1983, 11:34 local (16:34 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Location: 30.1588° N, 85.6602° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Panama City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1588&lon=-85.6602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30921
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83LA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30921/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83LA194

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT AS HE WAS RECOVERING FROM THE 1ST BANNER TOW MISSION, HE NOTED A LINE OF CUMULUS BUILDUPS MOVING NORTHERLY FROM OVER THE GULF TOWARD THE ARPT. HE ELECTED NOT TO PICK UP ANOTHER BANNER. HE PLANNED JUST TO DROP THE BANNER HE WAS TOWING, THEN LAND. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE EAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH & HAD BEEN INCREASING. THE TOWER CLEARED HIM TO DROP THE BANNER BESIDE RWY 04, THEN TO LAND ON RWY 14. THE APCH & BANNER DROP WERE NORMAL. DURING A PULL-UP AFTER THE BANNER DROP, THE ACFT STALLED & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE SURFACE WX OBSERVATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS, IN PART: 1600 BROKEN, 15,000 BROKEN, VISIBILITY 7 MI, THUNDERSTORM, WIND FROM 160 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 16 KTS, CUMULONIMBUS ALL QUADRANTS MOVING NORTHWEST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88477](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88477), registered now, S/N 136-75, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 136-75
- Airframe hours: 2710
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Walker Aviation Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1982, 693 hours before
- Airport: PFN, Panama City/Bay City, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,425 total, 315 in this make and model, 4,821 as pilot in command, 295 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PFN

## 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 19830801037409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830801037409A), Aug 1, 1983: Bbavia 8GCBC, Panama City, FL, Destroyed. Stalled on a go around after dropping a banner. Blamed gusts from an approaching thunderstorm.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.