On July 20, 2004, a Piper PA 25 (registration N7222Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Foley, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during climbout which resulted in a stall while maneuvering to pick up a banner. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to pick up a banner for towing made three attempts, succeeding on the third, then entered a steep left turn and descended. The airplane was found with left wing damage, buckled firewall, and separated tail wheel.
Accident Description
A pilot was preparing for a banner towing flight and attempted to pick up a banner from the ground. According to the pilot, the first two attempts were unsuccessful. On the third attempt, the pilot successfully connected with the banner. After the banner was attached, the airplane entered a steep left turn. The pilot reported that efforts to level the wings were unsuccessful, and the airplane descended to the ground.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane was in a nose low attitude. The leading edge of the left wing was damaged. The left wing was displaced aft from its normally installed position. Additionally, the left wing had spar damage. The firewall was buckled, and the tail wheel was separated from the airplane.
Pilot Report
The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane during the flight.