What happened
On August 7, 2004, at approximately 12:15 UTC, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, registration CS-AJW, departed from runway 35 at Tires Aerodrome (Aeródromo Municipal de Cascais) to perform a banner towing service. Following takeoff, the pilot released the tow line to allow ground crew to confirm the rope was clear of the horizontal stabilizer. After receiving radio confirmation from the ground team, the pilot executed a 360-degree left turn and approached a parallel strip of terrain to perform the banner pickup.
Witnesses observed that the approach was performed at a higher speed and a lower altitude than usual. The pilot initiated a climb earlier and with a more aggressive pitch attitude than standard procedure. Upon leveling off at approximately 25 meters, the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude and struck the runway violently. The aircraft slid diagonally across the runway and came to rest on the right shoulder, where it caught fire. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse, and fuel from the left tank ignited due to sparks from the sliding fuselage. The single fatality was the pilot, who died from traumatic injuries to the chest.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the emergency response. Investigators found a portion of the banner pickup cable entangled around the right horizontal stabilizer. The investigation also reviewed the operator's Flight Operations Manual (MOV), which dictates that pilots should fly at the lowest possible speed for control and engine cooling, while maintaining a margin above stall speed.
Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the airport's fire response. While the fire crews arrived quickly, the primary fire engine exhausted its extinguishing agent during the initial attack, requiring a second intervention after replenishment. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was equipped with a Fen Wick Aviation towing system, which requires the pilot to pick up the cable manually—a method identified as inherently high-risk.
Findings
- The aircraft's approach to the pickup point was performed at an excessive speed and low altitude.
- The pilot utilized an unusually steep climb attitude during the maneuver.
- The aircraft's horizontal stabilizer became entangled with the pickup cable.
- The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.
- The airport's fire suppression response was hindered by a lack of coordination and the exhaustion of extinguishing agents during the first attempt.
Safety action
- The investigator recommended that the Director of Tires Aerodrome implement a formal qualification and requalification program for fire services personnel.
- Recommendations were made to standardize ground crew hand signals to ensure unambiguous communication with pilots during banner pickups.
- The operator was advised to investigate safer banner deployment systems, such as those used in military aviation, to eliminate the risks associated with manual cable pickups.