Cessna C-305A accident near Brooklyn, New York, August 17, 1985
On August 17, 1985 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Cessna C-305A, registered N5250G, was destroyed in an accident near Brooklyn, New York. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- August 17, 1985 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-305A
- Registration
- N5250G · no longer on the register · serial 23229
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL BANNER TOW OPERATION AT LOW LEVEL ALONG THE BEACH, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE BANK SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND DIVE INTO THE WATER. WITNESSES RECALL THE ENGINE NOISE TO HAVE BEEN LOUD YET SPUTTERING BEFORE THE IMPACT. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE CARRY THRU AILERON CABLE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND OVERLOAD FORCES. WIRE FRACTURE ANALYSIS DID NOT DIFFERENTIATE PRE OR POST IMPACT FAILURE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,481 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 1985; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COL Colts Neck NJ at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from JFK, 10 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.