Champion 7GCAA accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey, November 10, 1985
On November 10, 1985 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Champion 7GCAA, registered N5249X, was destroyed in an accident near Colts Neck, New Jersey (Colts Neck 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
- November 10, 1985 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Colts Neck, New Jersey · Colts Neck
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N5249X · no longer on the register · serial 203
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BEING USED TO FLY AN ADVERTISING BANNER FOR THE JERSEY SHORE MARATHON. THE FLT TOOK OFF IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, CLIMBING TO APRX 1500 FT. A PULLUP MANEUVER WAS MADE TO SIMULATE A BANNER PICKUP. THE PLT CHECKED FOR ARPT TRAFFIC, DESCENDED TO ABOUT 800 FT AND AT THE SAME TIME NOTICED THE WIND GUSTING, ALTHOUGH THE WINDSOCK INDICATED VERY LITTLE WIND. THE BANNER WAS PICKED UP AND AT ABOUT 150 FT, THE LEFT WING AND NOSE DROPPED. THE PLT COULD NOT CORRECT. THE ACFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY INTO TREES, SPUN AROUND AND CAME TO REST. THE PLT EVACUATED THE ACFT BEFORE FIRE ERUPTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,546 hours in all; 1,546 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1,515 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.