On March 20, 1983, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N3618K) was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Lauderdale, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A banner-towing aircraft crashed after flying erratically following the release of the tow hook. Witnesses reported steep banks and pitch changes, and the pitch trim was found full nose up.
Incident
A banner-towing aircraft crashed after the pilot released the banner towing hook. The pilot's father and fiancée were acting as ground crew for the banner pickup. The father, a senior captain at Pan Am, stated that the aircraft flew in a very erratic manner after the hook was thrown out.
Witness Accounts
The father observed the aircraft banking and pitching until it pitched down into a steep descending right turn. Two other witnesses thought the aircraft acted as if it were in a cross-control or accelerated stall condition. All witnesses reported that the engine operated at constant power during the crash.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that the pitch trim was in the full nose-up position. No reason could be found for this trim setting. The engine was examined and no problems were found.
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