- Date
- June 6, 1992, 13:48 local (17:48 UTC)
- Place
- Socastee, SC
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6179ZPiper PA-25
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920606018549A
- Case key
- 8610
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain proper clearance from terrain during the maneuver. Factors in the accident were the failure of the pilot to release the banner, and the excessive size of the banner.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was returning to drop a banner during a banner tow operation. The banner contacted trees during the maneuver, the aircraft then stalled and collided with the terrain. A post crash fire consumed most of the aircraft. The investigation revealed that the release mechanism for the banner had not been pulled. Operation of the release mechanism showed it to be operational. The inspector stated that the banner being towed at the time of the accident was 'huge'.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6179Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-212
- Airframe hours
- 6,300
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Barnstormer Flite Signs, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Biddie-Bob, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 3, 1992 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 45 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MYR, 10 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.