# Accident 20260704008979A: Piper PA-25-235, Forest Lake, MN, July 4, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2026, 09:43 local time
- Place: Forest Lake, MN
- Airport: Forest Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.2403° N, 92.9811° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2403&lon=-92.9811&mi=10
- Aircraft: N386AB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N386AB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 564 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260704008979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA242), Jul 4, 2026: Piper PA-25-235 (N386AB), Forest Lake, MN, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N386AB (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20170526018969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170526018969I), May 26, 2017: Piper PA-25-235 (N386AB), Palmer, AK, No damage. Emergency landing between the old glenn & the new glenn on the knik river. Another pilot landed to offer assistance, plans are in place to deliver fuel to the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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