What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 5, 2000, about 1000 EDT, a Piper PA-18, N17080, was substantially damaged while making an emergency landing at Francis s. Gabreski airport (fok). Westhampton beach, NY. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local banner-tow flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The flight departed fok about 0950 and picked up a banner several minutes later. The pilot state that when he picked up the banner, the tow rope became entangled around the airplane's rudder horn. When he realized the rudder was jammed and the banner would not release, he returned to fok for landing. He maintained a steep descent angle in an attempt to land on the runway before the banner struck the ground. The airplane landed hard, and the main gear collapsed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 5, 2000, ABOUT 1000 EDT, A PIPER PA-18, N17080, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIRPORT (FOK). WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL BANNER-TOW FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FOK ABOUT 0950 AND PICKED UP A BANNER SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. THE PILOT STATE THAT WHEN HE PICKED UP THE BANNER, THE TOW ROPE BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE AIRPLANE'S RUDDER HORN. WHEN HE REALIZED THE RUDDER WAS JAMMED AND THE BANNER WOULD NOT RELEASE, HE RETURNED TO FOK FOR LANDING. HE MAINTAINED A STEEP DESCENT ANGLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY BEFORE THE BANNER STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, AND THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N17080 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.