Bellanca GC-BC accident near Panama City, Florida, May 20, 1993
On May 20, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Bellanca GC-BC, registered N2590Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida (Buchanan Stolport airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT A DOWNWIND LANDING AT THE 975 FOOT AIRFIELD. A FACTOR WAS THE TAIL WIND CONDITION WHICH EXISTED AT THE AIRFIELD AT THE TIME
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Buchanan Stolport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca GC-BC
- Registration
- N2590Z · registry record · serial 260-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A DOWNWIND LANDING AT THE 975 FOOT LONG SOD STRIP. HE STATED THAT HE WAS FAST ON THE APPROACH, AND AFTER APPLYING HEAVY BRAKING TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT, IT NOSED OVER INVERTED
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,175 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,709 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1993; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C-2E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Roberts And Buchannon,Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 975 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 pm from PFN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.