On July 5, 1997, a Piper PA-12 (registration N7799H) was involved in an aviation accident near Swansboro, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the gusting winds. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After dropping a banner, the pilot landed on a 2,400-foot sod strip. The aircraft drifted right during the rollout; when the pilot applied power for a go-around, it left the runway and struck an embankment. The pilot reported gusting winds.
Accident Description
A banner towing airplane experienced a runway excursion after landing on a sod airstrip. The aircraft touched down at the midfield point of the 2,400-foot-long runway and rolled several hundred feet before starting to veer to the right of the centerline. As the airplane neared the edge of the runway, the pilot advanced the throttle in an attempt to take off again. However, the airplane continued off the right side of the runway and collided with an embankment.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that he encountered gusting winds during the landing. No further details about the wind conditions were provided. The pilot had dropped the banner prior to returning for the landing.