Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Manorville, New York, July 6, 2003
On July 6, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N86985, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manorville, New York (Brookhaven airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper airspeed and his delayed remedial action to jettison the banner.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manorville, New York · Brookhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N86985 · registry record · serial 44074
- 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 made a banner pickup and on initial climb, the airplane started to settle. The company owner who witnessed the pickup said he thought the airplane was a little slow at pickup, and told the pilot to jettison the banner. The pilot replied that he was OK and continued. The owner observed the airplane continue to settle in a nose high attitude. When the pilot released the banner, the right wing dipped and the airplane descended into trees. The owner reported that the banner was 30 feet, by 100 feet, and had been towed successfully many times. He also reported that for a successful pickup with the banner, it was critical that the airplane be on speed and not slow.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Manorville NY at 6:30 pm
- Destination: HWV Shirley NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from HWV
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.