# NTSB NYC88LA178: Champion 7GBC, N7523F, Staten Island, NY, July 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1988, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Staten Island, NY
- Coordinates: 40.579845, -74.140441 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5798&lon=-74.1404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36180/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - load jettison - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER FLYING INTO A THUNDERSTORM HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG TURBULENCE, HEAVY DOWNDRAFTS AND RAIN, WHICH FORCED HIM INTO THE WATER. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN HE DROPPED THE BANNER HE WAS TOWING 'BUT THE AIRPLANE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP FLYING EVEN THOUGH I HAD FULL POWER.' THE ACFT SANK AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7523F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7523F-1989-06-13), registration cancelled 1989-06-13, S/N 20670 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GBC
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 206-70
- Airframe hours: 2532
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: United Aerial Advertising, doing business as Garrett Flight Center
- Registered owner: United Aerial Advertising Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: 4NY7, E. MORICHES, NY
- Destination: BLM, FARMINGDALE, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 370 total, 55 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19880710026089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880710026089A), Jul 10, 1988: Bbavia 7GCBC, Staten Island, NY, Destroyed. Towing banner flew into thunderstrom. Dropped banner. Downdrafts forced him into water. Aircraft sank in bay.

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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