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Banner Towing Airplane Impacts Ground During Release

Covington, LA, United States

On October 17, 2011, a CESSNA 172N operated by AIR RELDAN INC was involved in an aviation accident near Covington, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a banner drop, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

After a banner towing flight, the pilot released the banner and added full engine power. Sensing a surge/deceleration, the pilot attempted a second release, causing the left wing to drop. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

Accident Sequence

The accident occurred following a local banner towing flight. The pilot returned to the airport to drop the banner. With flaps set at 10 degrees, the pilot flew the airplane approximately 200 feet above the runway and slowed to an airspeed of 60 knots. After releasing the banner, the pilot applied full engine power and noted a surge/deceleration. Believing the banner had not released, the pilot reached down and pulled the banner release handle a second time. During this action, the airplane's left wing and nose dropped. The pilot was able to recover the airplane to wings level, but before the descent could be arrested, the airplane impacted the ground and nosed over.

Postaccident Examination

The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotAirspeed — Not attained/maintained

Related events

Same aircraft family

  • 24 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172B
  • 23 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 18 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 16 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172M (CK Aviation LLC)
  • 9 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 8 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N
  • 7 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Tin Cup Investments INC)
  • 24 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172M
  • 21 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172P (Vascular Wings LLC)
  • 18 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Ocala Aviation Services INC)
  • 16 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Foothill Aircraft Sales and Service Inc.)
  • 9 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Kimber 123 Holdings LLC)

Same operator

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 17 Oct 2011 CESSNA 172N accident near Covington, LA?

After a banner towing flight, the pilot released the banner and added full engine power. Sensing a surge/deceleration, the pilot attempted a second release, causing the left wing to drop. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

Were there any fatalities in the 17 Oct 2011 CESSNA 172N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 17 Oct 2011 involved a CESSNA 172N, operated by AIR RELDAN INC, at Covington, LA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a banner drop, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.

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