# NTSB NYC90FA192: Bellanca 7GCAA, N4190Y, Saltaire, NY, August 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1990, 14:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place: Saltaire, NY
- Coordinates: 40.69025, -73.319908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6902&lon=-73.3199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36545
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36545/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA192

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN LOW OVER THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE WATER WITH THE RIGHT WING AND THE WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE SANK AND WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE PILOT DID NOT ESCAPE THE WRECKAGE PRIOR TO ITS SINKING AND HIS BODY WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE RIGHT WING WAS RECOVERED AND A FRACTURE SURFACE ON THE WING WAS ANALYZED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OVERSTRESS CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4190Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4190Y-1990-08-31), registration cancelled 1990-08-31, S/N 33777 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 337-77
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-8 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: United Aerial Advertising Inc
- Departed: 4NY7, 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.

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900814045829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900814045829A), Aug 14, 1990: Bbavia 7GCAA, Saltaire, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flight of two banner tows returning to base. One made a turn to observe a shark. Collided with water and sank.

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.