# NTSB NYC90GA105: Bellanca 17-31A, N7SF, Davis Park, NY, May 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1990, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC)
- Place: Davis Park, NY
- Location: 40.6840° N, 73.0048° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Davis Park, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6840&lon=-73.0048&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90GA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36555/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90GA105

## Probable cause

THE AIRPLANE IMPACTING THE WATER AT A HIGH SPEED FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S).

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE WEATHER WAS VFR THROUGHOUT THE AREA WHEN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ON WHAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN A LOCAL AREA TRAINING FLIGHT FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY. THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND IT WAS REPORTED OVERDUE ABOUT 6 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN OUT OVER THE OCEAN AFTER TAKEOFF, AND AFTER SOME MANEUVERING REVERSED COURSE. AT NO TIME WAS THE AIRPLANE ABOVE 500 FT MSL. ON 5/13 PARTS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE FOUND WASHED UP ON A BEACH. TWO PASSENGER BODIES WERE RECOVERED; THE PILOT AND THE REMAINING PASSENGER WERE NOT. INJURIES ARE PRESUMED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE WATER AT HIGH SPEED WHILE STRUCTURALLY INTACT. THE PILOT HAD REPORTEDLY SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 48 HRS, AND HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF PAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7SF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7SF-1991-10-25), registration cancelled 1991-10-25, S/N 7332114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 73-32-114
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1E5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Invictus Flying Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1990
- Departed: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 825 total, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FRG, 15 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 19900512017009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900512017009A), May 12, 1990: Blanca 1731A, Davis Park, NY, Destroyed, 4 fatal. High speed impact into ocean on a U.S. Coast guard training flight. Pilot had complained pain from prior head injury

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.