Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Lyon Mountain, New York, February 11, 1989
On February 11, 1989 at about 2:30 am local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered CGBHN, was destroyed in an accident near Lyon Mountain, New York. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY IN WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE BEYOND HIS AND THE AIRCRAFT'S CAPABILITIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1989 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Lyon Mountain, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- CGBHN · no longer on the register · serial 1166-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A BELLANCA 7GCBC WAS ON FERRY FLIGHT, WHEN HE FLEW INTO A SNOW STORM. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN CIRCLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THEN WAS SEEN HEADING TOWARDS HIGH TERRAIN AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INTO THE SIDE OF A 4100 FOOT MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 2900 FEET.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 144 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: YKG Kingston
- Destination: YSJ Fredericton
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from SLK, 27 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.