Fatal Cessna 172 Skyhawk Accident During Banner Tow at Tires Aerodrome (CS-AJW)

Flight History and Accident Sequence On August 7, 2004, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with registration CS-AJW took off from runway 35 at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais at approximately 12:15 UTC. The aircraft was operating a banner tow service. After takeoff, the pilot released the tow line to allow ground crew to confirm the hook position. Following radio confirmation, the pilot executed a 360-degree left turn and directed the aircraft over a strip of land parallel to the runway to perform the banner pickup. Witnesses reported that the approach was lower and faster than usual, and the pilot initiated the climb earlier with a steeper pitch attitude. At approximately 25 meters altitude, the aircraft leveled off, then rotated into a nose-down position and struck the runway violently. The aircraft crossed the runway diagonally, exited on the right, and came to rest in adjacent terrain near the shoulder, where it caught fire. Firefighters responded but their primary extinguishing agent was depleted, requiring a return to base for refilling before the fire was extinguished on the second intervention. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot perished in the accident. A portion of the pickup cable was found wrapped around the right horizontal stabilizer. The autopsy revealed that traumatic changes in the pilot's thorax were the cause of death. After impact, the aircraft lost its landing gear and slid along the runway on its underside, generating sparks. It is believed these sparks ignited fuel that leaked from the left fuel tank. The pilot gave no signs of life after the aircraft came to rest and remained inside during the firefighting efforts.