Accident Overview
An airplane involved in a banner pickup operation collided with terrain after a sequence of events observed by four witnesses. The aircraft was not aligned for the pickup and approached from the right, angling toward the pickup poles. As it neared the poles, the right wing momentarily dropped. The airplane then entered a climb with increased power.
Witness Observations
Three of the four witnesses reported that the banner rope became wrapped around the right wing. At an altitude estimated between 75 and 100 feet, the airplane began to descend, rolled to the right into an inverted attitude, and impacted the ground in an inverted, right-wing-low position.
Post-Accident Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction in the engine or airframe. The tow rope was found wrapped around the right wing. The banner itself remained on the ground in its original pickup position, indicating that the airplane had not moved far enough or gained sufficient altitude to lift the banner.
The accident sequence highlights the critical importance of proper alignment and execution during banner pickup maneuvers. The rope entanglement with the wing likely compromised the aircraft's controllability, leading to the loss of control.