Cessna 150J Banner-Tow Accident Near Manteo, North Carolina (N60111)

Accident Overview and Flight History On June 27, 2018, at approximately 1026 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, registration N60111, was destroyed in an accident near Manteo, North Carolina. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner-tow flight. The commercial pilot was fatally injured in the incident. A ground crewmember working in the banner pick-up area observed the aircraft approach and line up with the pickup poles. The witness described the aircraft as “very low,” estimating the tail was about 5 feet off the ground. As the aircraft passed through the pickup area, the pickup loop became caught around the left elevator. The pilot radioed the ground crew, stating, “I can't turn, it won't release.” The aircraft continued north and, when it was barely over the tree tops, it made a climbing left turn. The witness noted that the wind was blowing from right to left and appeared to be pushing the aircraft leftward before it disappeared behind the tree line. Another witness, who did not see the banner pickup, observed the aircraft climbing out to midfield with the tow rope wrapped around the left horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft was yawing to the left when it reached the end of the runway. It then made a climbing left turn to an altitude of about 250 feet before appearing to enter an aerodynamic stall and descend into trees just to the left of the departure end of runway 23. The wreckage was found between trees adjacent to the airport perimeter. ## Personnel and Meteorological Information The pilot’s medical certificate application reported 150 hours of total flight experience and no hours in the previous six months. Because the pilot’s logbook was not recovered, his total flight experience at the time of the accident could not be determined. Training records showed that he successfully completed a proficiency check for banner-tow operations on May 7, 2018. The wind reported at MQI about the time of the accident was from 120° at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots, which would have resulted in a nearly direct left crosswind when operating from runway 23. A witness who owned another banner-tow company at MQI described the crosswind as “unusual” and noted that the air was very turbulent when she had flown earlier that morning. ## Wreckage and Impact Information The main wreckage was located about 400 feet from the departure runway 35 centerline on a 242° magnetic heading. The wreckage path was 124 feet long and oriented on a 242° magnetic heading. The aircraft came to rest inverted and facing the direction of travel. It sustained extensive compression damage to the forward fuselage, crushing the cockpit. The cockpit instrument panel was damaged by impact, preventing an examination of the instruments. The right wing had trailing edge tree damage at the flap and aileron, as well as leading edge crush damage throughout the length of the wing. The left wing remained attached to the aircraft, with part of the outboard section separated. The right elevator separated from the horizontal stabilizer. The banner-tow rope was wrapped around the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. All flight control surfaces were located at the accident site, and flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to each flight control surface. The engine was damaged by impact but remained attached to the airframe at the tubular mount, displaced aft and toward the left. The engine was partially disassembled for further examination. Rotation of the crankshaft flange confirmed continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and the valve train. Compression and suction were observed on all four engine cylinders, and a borescope inspection of each cylinder interior revealed no anomalies. The propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange, while the propeller spinner was fragmented. Both propeller blades remained attached to the crankshaft flange and were damaged; they were bent aft and had chordwise scoring throughout the blade span. Examination of the flight controls and the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Medical and Pathological Information The East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Division of Forensic Pathology, in Greenville, North Carolina, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for ethanol and drugs.