On August 5, 1992, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N4037E) operated by Banner Advertising was involved in an aviation accident near Littleton, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly attach the banner to the tow hook, which resulted in a stall during the final phase of flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting a banner tow flight accidentally attached the banner to the main landing gear instead of the tow hook, causing a stall during final approach.
What happened
During a banner towing operation, the pilot made a critical error in attaching the tow line. Instead of securing the banner to the designated tow hook, the pilot inadvertently picked it up with the main landing gear. As the aircraft approached the runway for landing, the banner remained attached to the wheels.
While on final approach, the added drag and weight from the banner being dragged along the ground significantly affected the aircraft's performance. The pilot attempted to land but was unable to maintain sufficient airspeed. The aircraft stalled just before touchdown. Upon impact with the runway surface, the nose of the aircraft collapsed forward.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly attach the banner to the tow hook, which resulted in a stall during the final phase of flight.
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