On July 7, 1990, a Cessna 305A (registration N5208G) operated by Visionaire was involved in an aviation accident near Newburyport, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The owner had made an unauthorized modification to the hook release mechanism and the pilot failed to land on a hard surface as recommended in the approved supplemental flight manual for banner towing, when landing with a banner still attached. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna 305A performing banner towing nosed over during landing after the pilot could not release the banner. The FAA cited an unauthorized modification to the hook release and landing on an inappropriate surface.
Incident Summary
A Cessna 305A aircraft was engaged in banner towing when the pilot experienced an inability to release the banner. The pilot proceeded to land with the banner still attached. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and sustained damage.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 305A. No registration was provided in the source. The aircraft was operated by a private owner who had made an unauthorized modification to the hook release mechanism, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Investigation Findings
The FAA determined that the owner had made an unauthorized modification to the hook release mechanism. Additionally, the pilot failed to land on a hard surface as recommended in the approved supplemental flight manual for banner towing when landing with a banner still attached. These two factors were identified by the FAA as contributing to the accident sequence.
Probable cause
The owner had made an unauthorized modification to the hook release mechanism and the pilot failed to land on a hard surface as recommended in the approved supplemental flight manual for banner towing, when landing with a banner still attached.
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