- Date
- July 28, 1993, 12:56 local (16:56 UTC)
- Place
- Woodbine, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2971DCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930728025999A
- Case key
- 8797
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 pilot maintaining too steep of an angle of climb and an inadequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and subsequent loss of control in flight resulting in a collision with the runway. The pilot's lack of experience in the type of operation was a factor.
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 pilot of an airplane involved in a banner tow operation reported that he had completed a normal traffic pattern and approach to runway 30 to pick up a banner. He stated that he did a routine pick up followed by a climb. During the initial climb, the pilot stated that his angle of attack was steep and the airplane stalled. He stated that he lowered the airplane's nose and that the engine was at full power, but the airplane impacted the runway. Witnesses on the ground reported that the weather was clear with little or no wind. One witness stated that during the initial climb, the airplane began to flutter before falling to the ground and impacting the runway. Examination of the engine by the FAA did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. The investigation also revealed that the pilot had received his endorsement for banner towing six days prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2971D
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17026914
- Airframe hours
- 4,473
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Peter B Hellgren
- Registered owner
- Peter B Hellgren
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1993 · 108 hours before
- Departed
- 1N4
- Destination
- 1N4
- Airport
- 1N4 · Woodbine, runway 3, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 377 total · 50 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- WWD, 15 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.
Other investigations on N2971D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.