Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, March 26, 1988
On March 26, 1988 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N5044G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Terry 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1988 · about 6:15 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Terry · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5044G · registry record · serial 30479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE PILOT HAD TAKEN OFF ON A TOW PLANE OPERATION HE RETURNED TO THE LOCAL ARPT. AFTER LANDING HE TURNED DOWNWIND TO TAXI TO THE RAMP. THE WIND RAISED THE TAIL OF THE TAILWHEEL ACFT AND NOSED THE ACFT INVERTED. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND AT 18 KNOTS GUSTING TO 28.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 21,506 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1988; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from IND, 23 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5044G on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bellanca 8 Decathlon and Scout 554 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bellanca 2,699 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Indiana 1,367 since 1982 · 179 in the last ten years
- Indiana 5,705 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI88LA085.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.