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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1988 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Terry · 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.
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.