NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ATL83LA353
Registry · N88223
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
BELLANCA 7GCAA
Year of manufacture
1974 · 9 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19740822
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC27FD
Registrant of record
MATHER DON A
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE ACFT WAS MODIFIED TO TOW BANNERS & WAS BEING USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. AFTER THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 3 HRS & 20 MIN, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON HIS 4TH BANNER TOW FLT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD USED THE FUEL GAGES TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING. THE ESTIMATED THAT 5 OR MORE GAL OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD PRIOR TO HIS LAST TAKEOFF. HE FLEW TO A STADIUM WHERE HE MADE 6 TO 8 TURNS. HE HAD JUST STARTED BACK TO THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF POWER, HE REPORTEDLY USED AN AIRSPEED OF 60 MPH. THE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDED A MINIMUM SPEED OF 65 MPH FOR ATTEMPTING A RESTART. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE RELEASED THE BANNER JUST PRIOR TO DITCHING IN A RIVER. THE ACFT WAS TOWED TO THE RIVER BANK BY A BOAT & WAS RECOVERED LATER. APRX 2 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICL FAILURES WERE FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1983_ATL83LA353.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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