What happened
On February 22, 2004, at approximately 13:15 local time, a Cessna R-172-K, registration EC-DNV, was performing aerial advertising services near the El Berriel Aerodrome in Gran Canaria. The aircraft was engaged in a banner-towing operation, a task that involves flying at low altitudes to hook a promotional banner from a ground-based frame.
During the second flight of the day, the pilot attempted to retrieve a new banner. After two attempts, the aircraft successfully hooked the banner. Immediately following the attachment, the aircraft entered a very steep climb. As the airspeed decreased rapidly, the pilot released the banner to attempt to level the flight. Despite releasing the load, the aircraft entered a descending turn to the right. The aircraft struck the ground near the runway threshold, with the right wingtip and propeller making initial contact before the aircraft slid toward the runway centerline. A post-impact fire heavily damaged the wreckage, and the single fatality was the pilot.