Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Frankford, Delaware, July 4, 2024
On July 4, 2024 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1974 Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N749SK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Frankford, Delaware. It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power resulting from cylinder detonation and a cracked spark plug, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2024 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Frankford, Delaware · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC, built 1974 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N749SK · registry record · serial 12775
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying at 300 ft mean sea level (msl) while towing a banner when he noticed the engine oil temperature began to increase. The pilot informed the operator and climbed to 1,200 ft msl; however, the airplane would not maintain altitude and was slowly descending. The engine rpm began to decrease and the engine increasingly began to run rough. The pilot dropped the banner as the airplane descended through 700 ft msl, and he initiated a forced landing in a field that was bordered by trees. Unable to reach the field, the airplane impacted the top of trees. The airplane then descended to the ground, resulting in substantial airframe and wing damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed damage to the No. 3 cylinder that was consistent with detonation in the form of erosion on the edge of the intake valve and valve seat insert, and a cracked lower spark plug that was likely the cause of the detonation. A review of the most recent annual inspection maintenance logs revealed that the No. 3 cylinder assembly was replaced with a new cylinder 45 days before the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 407 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days; 264 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,834 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2024; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 6,834 hours total
- Operator: Ocean Aerial Ads INC
The flight
- Departed from: 4MD1 Berlin MD at 7:15 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from OXB, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOXB 041853Z AUTO 19007G18KT 10SM CLR 27/22 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T02670217=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA and Mechanic Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records_excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos_accident Site and Airplane Damage | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N749SK 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 1,070 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bunting'S Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Delaware 116 since 1982 · 16 in the last ten years
- Delaware 10,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA24LA299.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.