On July 10, 1988, a Champion 7GBC (registration N7523F) operated by United Aerial Advertising was involved in an aviation accident near Staten Island, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to fly into a thunderstorm, which resulted in loss of control due to severe turbulence and downdrafts. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot towing a banner encountered strong turbulence, heavy downdrafts, and rain while flying through a thunderstorm, forcing him to release the load and enter the water.
What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft while towing a banner when he flew directly into a thunderstorm. During this phase of the flight, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions characterized by strong turbulence, heavy downdrafts, and significant precipitation. These atmospheric disturbances made it impossible to maintain controlled flight.
As the situation deteriorated, the pilot realized that the aircraft was losing altitude rapidly and would not remain airborne despite applying full power. In an attempt to lighten the load and improve performance, he released the banner he was towing. However, these actions were insufficient to prevent the aircraft from descending into the water. The aircraft remained afloat for approximately ten minutes before sinking completely.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly into a thunderstorm, which resulted in loss of control due to severe turbulence and downdrafts.