What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was performing banner towing operations. They had conducted a normal takeoff and banner hook deployment. After successful banner hook, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude at full throttle and mixture. The banner was released and the aircraft continued losing altitude, resulting in a collision with trees. The aircraft came to rest inverted against a tree.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS. THEY HAD CONDUCTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND BANNER HOOK DEPLOYMENT. AFTER SUCCESSFUL BANNER HOOK, THE AIRCRAFT STRUGGLED TO GAIN ALTITUDE AT FULL THROTTLE AND MIXTURE. THE BANNER WAS RELEASED AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED LOSING ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AGAINST A TREE.
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 N386AB · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.