Bellanca 7KCAB N90985

Summary

On 25 March 1989 at about 17:48 local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB registered N90985, operated by Aerial Messages, Inc., was involved in an accident near Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 1989 at 17:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bellanca 7KCAB

Registration

N90985

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aerial Messages, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Smyrna Bch. → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA89FA115

1 person died.

IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE DIRECTION DUE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE 'STEEP TURN.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE FLYING OFFSHORE SOUTHBOUND AT AN ALT OF 300-400 FT, THE BANNER TOWING BELLANCA PASSED TO THE RT, THE LAST OF A FLT OF FOUR BANNER TOWING SUPER CUB ACFT CRUISING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, PLACING THE ACFT CLOSER TO SHORE. WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND, THE PLT INITIATED A 'VERY TIGHT' RT TURN TO RETURN NORTHBOUND. DURING THE TURN, THE ACFT DID WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A WING OVER & WHILE DESCENDING EASTBOUND WITH THE BANNER ATTACHED, THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A WAVE CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE INTO THE WATER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF EITHER THE FLT CONTROLS OR ENG. THE BANNER RELEASE MECHANISM WAS EXAMINED & THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE MINIMUM ALT FOR BANNER TOWING OTHER THAN FOR PICKUP'S AND DROP'S IS 500 FT WHEN AUTHORIZED BY ATC.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.