On July 5, 1991, a Champion 7KCAB (registration N5BJ) operated by Ocean Aerial Ads Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Berlin, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE UNSUITABLE PLACEMENT OF TWO BANNERS (IMPROPER PLANNING) BY OTHER PERSONNEL CAUSING AN UNINTENTIONAL PICKUP OF BOTH BANNERS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an airborne banner pickup, the tail wheel caught a banner and unintentionally a second banner. Unable to release them, the added drag caused altitude loss, forcing a landing in a wooded area near the airfield.
Incident Overview
A pilot was attempting an airborne pickup of a banner when the tail wheel of the aircraft caught the banner and, unintentionally, a second banner. The pilot first attempted to release both banners, but they became entangled with the tail wheel, preventing their release.
Sequence of Events
The added drag from the entangled banners caused the airplane to lose altitude, making it impossible to return to the airfield. The pilot concentrated on trying to find a suitable place to land. However, the airplane settled into a wooded area and struck some trees approximately half a mile from the airfield.