Incident Overview
A pilot conducted a banner pickup and, during the initial climb following the pickup, the airplane began to settle. The company owner, who witnessed the event, observed the aircraft and believed that the airspeed at the moment of pickup was too slow. He advised the pilot to jettison the banner. The pilot responded that he was managing the situation and continued the climb.
Sequence of Events
As the climb progressed, the airplane continued to settle while maintaining a nose-high attitude. When the pilot eventually released the banner, the right wing dipped, causing the airplane to descend into trees.
Banner Details and Pilot Comments
The owner reported that the banner measured 30 feet by 100 feet and had been successfully towed on many previous occasions. He also noted that for a successful pickup with that banner, it was critical for the airplane to be at the correct speed and not slow.