Accident Overview
The accident occurred after a banner towing flight. The pilot had returned to the staging area and dropped the banner while on a south heading. Following the release, the pilot maneuvered the airplane back to the north of the drop zone. During this maneuver, the airplane collided with the ground in a nose-low attitude. An examination of the wreckage determined that the wing flaps were extended to 40 degrees, consistent with a landing configuration. The investigation of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or component failure that would have contributed to the accident.
Aircraft Examination
A thorough post-accident examination was conducted. The airframe and engine were inspected for any signs of pre-existing defects or failures. The examination concluded that no mechanical issues or component failures were present prior to the accident. The flap position of 40 degrees indicates that the flaps were set to a landing configuration at the time of impact.
Flight Profile
The pilot had completed the banner towing portion of the flight and proceeded to the staging area for banner drop. The banner was released while the airplane was heading south. Subsequently, the pilot turned the airplane northward. The collision with terrain occurred while the airplane was in a nose-low attitude.