Accident Overview
A pilot contracted for banner towing operations experienced a loss of control during final approach to Runway 9. The accident occurred after completing a banner towing flight over a stadium and returning to the departure airport. The pilot had made one previous flight earlier that day under similar conditions.
Weather Conditions
Strong, gusty winds prevailed throughout the day. The wind was reported as steady from 100 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts ranging from 25 to 30 knots. The pilot configured the airplane with one notch of flaps and maintained an airspeed of 80 mph during the approach.
Sequence of Events
After dropping the banner, the pilot positioned the airplane on final approach for Runway 9. At an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground, the right wing dropped. The pilot reported being unable to regain control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the ground in a right-wing-low attitude, touching down about 50 feet short of the runway.
Aircraft Performance
The airplane has a stall speed of 43 mph with landing flaps extended and 47 mph with flaps retracted. The approach speed of 80 mph was significantly above stall speeds, but the gusty crosswind conditions (wind from 100 degrees while landing on Runway 9) likely influenced the loss of control.
The accident did not result in any reported injuries or fatalities. No probable cause was identified in the source material.