What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During banner tow operation at blm airport, after the banner was picked up, and at an altitude of approximately 300' AGL, the pilot reported to the company ground ops personnel, that he was not able to establish a climb or maintain altitude. The aircraft continued to descend inexplicably. The pilot reported that he made several unsuccessful attempts to release the banner during the descent, beginning at approximately 200' AGL. Unaware to the pilot, the banner did release shortly before impacting the ground, in an approximate 15 deg. Nose down, 35 deg. Left bank attitude and a 290 deg. Heading. The beginning of the banner tow line lay on the open ground approximately 150' behind the tail hook of the aircraft with the remaining line stretched-out and trailing behind.
As the FAA filed it
DURING BANNER TOW OPERATION AT BLM AIRPORT, AFTER THE BANNER WAS PICKED UP, AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300' AGL, THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE COMPANY GROUND OPS PERSONNEL, THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ESTABLISH A CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND INEXPLICABLY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE BANNER DURING THE DESCENT, BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 200' AGL. UNAWARE TO THE PILOT, THE BANNER DID RELEASE SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND, IN AN APPROXIMATE 15 DEG. NOSE DOWN, 35 DEG. LEFT BANK ATTITUDE AND A 290 DEG. HEADING. THE BEGINNING OF THE BANNER TOW LINE LAY ON THE OPEN GROUND APPROXIMATELY 150' BEHIND THE TAIL HOOK OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE REMAINING LINE STRETCHED-OUT AND TRAILING BEHIND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.