Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, July 31, 2004
On July 31, 2004 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N53748, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey (Monmouth Executive airport). It was an other work-use 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
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and collision with wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2004 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New Jersey · Monmouth Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N53748 · no longer on the register · serial 538-75
- 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 took off, climbed out normally and then proceeded with a banner pick-up. A witness reported that the pilot did not add full power until about 15 feet prior to the banner pick-up poles. The airplane picked up the banner, then immediately pitched up steeply. The wings began to rock back and forth and the airplane began to descend with the banner connected. The pilot released the banner; however, the airplane descended into wires and impacted a hangar. According to the operator, the normal banner pick-up procedure with regards to engine power was to add full throttle about 100 to 125 feet prior to the banner pick-up poles. Examination of the airplane did not revealed any mechanical malfunctions.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 362 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 252 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,185 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Farmingdale NJ
- Destination: BLM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 7,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft; a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from BLM
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.