# NTSB NYC03LA151: Bellanca 8GCBC, N86985, Manorville, NY, July 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2003, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Manorville, NY - Coordinates: 40.834999, -72.864997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8350&lon=-72.8650&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain the proper airspeed and his delayed remedial action to jettison the banner. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2003, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N86985, operated by Island Aerial Ads, of Shirley, New York, was substantially damaged when it struck the ground in Manorville, New York, after a banner pick-up at the Brookhaven Airport, Shirley. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the banner towing flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the company owner who witnessed the accident: "...The wind was from the north at approximately 10 knots, density altitude was 2,100 feet, the temperature was around 92 [F]. The banner was set up on runway 6. The banner was 30 ft tall by 100 ft long. The banner pickup was normal, approach speed was good and the airplane [engine] sounded strong. I radioed the pilot after pickup and told him the wind was from his left and to slowly turn left to try to get directly into the wind for better lift. At this point the airplane started to settle. At approximately 250 ft agl [above ground level], the airplane was in a slow descent with a nose high attitude. I radioed him to release the banner. He radioed back that "I'm OK, I got it." I radioed him again to release the banner. At that point he was still nose high and settling. It looked like he released the banner, and the right wing of the airplane dipped slightly and I lost sight and communication with the aircraft...." In a telephone interview, the owner reported that he had trained his pilots so that full power was applied before they pass the poles that hold the pickup rope. He added that his perception was that the airplane was a little slow as it passed the poles, and after completion of the zoom climb that followed engagement of the tow rope, the airplane had slowed further. The owner also said the banner was a popular one and had been flown many times before. However, due to its size, it was necessary to make the pickup under optimum performance conditions, and there was little room for error if the airplane was not on its optimum airspeed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the airplane settled into a wooded area. The landing gear was collapsed, and the wing struts exhibited downward compression bending. The lower part of the fuselage was crushed upward. The airplane was equipped with a 4 point restraint system. According to FAA records, the pilot's total flight experience was reported as 1,600 hours on November 22, 2002. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86985](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86985), registered now, S/N 44-74, 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: 44074 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Island Aerial Ads Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2003 - Departed: HWV, Manorville, NY - Destination: HWV, Shirley, NY - Airport: HWV, Brookhaven, runway 06 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: HWV ## 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 20030706036629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706036629A), Jul 6, 2003: Bbavia 8GCBC, Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 6, 2003, at approximately 14:03 local standard time, aircraft N86985, stalled and struck the ground in manorville, new york, shortly after… ## Other investigations on N86985 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA81DKJ15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81DKJ15), Aug 21, 1981: Bellanca 8GCBC (N86985), Destin, FL, substantial damage 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.