Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL90LA098

N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC, USA

Aircraft #1

N22953

CESSNA 150H

Analysis

DURING AN AERIAL BANNER TOW FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AT LOW ALTITUDE. IT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE OCEAN ADJACENT TO THE BEACH IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, ON THE SAME MORNING, THE PILOT HAD DISCUSSED WITH ANOTHER BANNER TOW PILOT HIS THEORY OF COMPLETING A COURSE REVERSAL. THE METHOD SUGGESTED INVOLVED A STEEP TURN AT A SPEED THAT WAS NEAR THE STALL SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE. THE SAME PILOT WAS TRAILING THE AIRPLANE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT THE WINGS ROCKED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE A TURN WAS INITIATED, DURING WHICH THE STALL OCCURRED. ALSO, HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY SPEED INCREASE BEFORE THE TURN BEGAN.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COURSE REVERSAL PROCEDURE WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AT A LOW ALTITUDE PRECLUDING A RECOVERY BEFORE WATER IMPACT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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