Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB ERA18FA180
CESSNA 150J — Manteo, NC
| Date | June 27, 2018 |
| Location | Manteo, NC |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 150J |
| Purpose of flight | Banner Tow |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 35 |
| Pilot total time | 150 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | 150 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Fuselage-Aerial tow equipment section-Incorrect use/operation - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Incorrect use/operation
What happened
The commercial pilot was performing a banner-tow flight. A ground crewmember who witnessed the accident stated that the airplane was operating too low during the banner pickup. That witness and another indicated that, when the airplane picked up the banner-tow rope, it became entangled in the area of the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot radioed that he was unable to release the banner rope and could not turn the airplane. The airplane yawed left and only climbed to about 250 ft before descending into the trees by the airport.
A postaccident examination of the flight controls and the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation with the exception that the banner tow rope was wrapped around the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer.
During the approach to pick up the banner, the wind was a direct left crosswind at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots. It is likely that the pilot flew an approach that was hampered by the crosswind. During pickup of the tow line, the banner tow-rope became entangled with the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, reducing the pilot's ability to control the airplane, and resulted in a loss of control in flight.