# NTSB ATL87FA194: Piper PA-18A-150, N74815, No.Myrtle Beach, SC, June 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1987, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: No.Myrtle Beach, SC
- Location: 33.8261° N, 78.7264° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GRAND STRAND (CRE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8261&lon=-78.7264&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7306
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7306/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA194

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS MANEUVERING AT 350 FT AGL IN PREPARATION FOR A BANNER PICK-UP WHEN IT ENTERED A SPIN AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED TREES AND THE TERRAIN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE 'FAILED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE' WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPLOY A BANNER TOW LINE, AND THAT IT STALLED AND BEGAN TO SPIN. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SPIN BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT BEFORE THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES AND THE TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTEDLY HAD 38 HOURS TOTAL BANNER-TOWING EXPERIENCE. THE AIRPLANE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THIS WAS TO BE THE PLT'S FIRST BANNER TOW WITH HIS OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N74815 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6941
- Airframe hours: 3342
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix Flight Signs,Inc.
- Registered owner: Gaddys Copter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1987, 65 hours before
- Departed: CRE, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC
- Airport: CRE, Grand Strand

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 528 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRE, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870630027229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870630027229A), Jun 30, 1987: Piper PA18A150, North Myrtle Be, SC, Destroyed. Pilot lost control while trying to loosen the banner tow rope. Aircraft entered a spin recovered too late hit trees

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.

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