What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot fatal, N3813M, PA12-12, experienced engine failure after picking up a banner at Norfolk Airport, MA at 1222 EDT, 04/17/00. Pilot was the sole occupant. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB investigator is Ms. Leah yeager from the parsippany NY office. Also, air safety investigators from lycomint (Textron) manuf. And Piper aircraft inc. were present during the investigation. This accident was videotaped, it shows the aircraft flying into pick up the banner rope then start a sharp climb. It was at that time the engine stalled. The plane was at approximately one hundred feet when it nosed over without power. As the aircraft was in a descent the engine was heard again briefly just prior to impact with the ground. This was the second attempt at catching the rope; the rope never became taut.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT FATAL, N3813M, PA12-12, EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AFTER PICKING UP A BANNER AT NORFOLK AIRPORT, MA AT 1222 EDT, 04/17/00. PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR IS MS. LEAH YEAGER FROM THE PARSIPPANY NY OFFICE. ALSO, AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS FROM LYCOMINT (TEXTRON) MANUF. AND PIPER AIRCRAFT INC. WERE PRESENT DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THIS ACCIDENT WAS VIDEOTAPED, IT SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT FLYING INTO PICK UP THE BANNER ROPE THEN START A SHARP CLIMB. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PLANE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED FEET WHEN IT NOSED OVER WITHOUT POWER. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A DESCENT THE ENGINE WAS HEARD AGAIN BRIEFLY JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THIS WAS THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT CATCHING THE ROPE; THE ROPE NEVER BECAME TAUT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.