What happened
On August 11, 2024, at approximately 13:59 EDT, a Piper PA-12, registration N2504M, was involved in an accident near Ponce Inlet, Florida. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 banner tow flight.
According to the pilot, the aircraft departed for its second flight of the day with 17 gallons of fuel. Approximately one hour into the flight, while at an altitude of about 500 feet mean sea level, the engine experienced a momentary surge in power. This anomaly occurred several times before the engine suffered a complete loss of power.
After being unable to restore power, the pilot released the banner and executed a forced landing onto an exposed sandbar. During the landing roll, the aircraft overran the sandbar and nosed over into the water. The rudder struck the river bottom, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The plane came to rest inverted in approximately 2 feet of saltwater, located about 2 miles northeast of New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB).
The pilot was not injured.