# NTSB CHI94LA016: Cessna 150J, N5522G, Grosse Ile, MI, October 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1993, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Grosse Ile, MI - Coordinates: 42.13071, -83.150115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1307&lon=-83.1501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9414/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA016 ## Probable cause THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE DURING THE BANNER PICKUP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOW ROPE SNAGGING THE LANDING GEAR, AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE LANDING WITH THE BANNER ATTACHED, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO ATTAIN A FLARE FOR LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, other - sign towing equipment - other - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flare - not attained, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS FLYING A BANNER TOW FLIGHT. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE BANNER, THE ROPE CAUGHT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR INSTEAD OF THE TOW HOOK. THE BANNER CAUSED NO ADVERSE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, SO THE PILOT FLEW THE TWO HOUR FLIGHT. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS LANDING, THE INCREASED DRAG OF THE BANNER CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO STALL AT ABOUT SIX FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND WAS DAMAGED. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1993, at 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N5522G, sustained substantial damage in a hard landing at the Grosse Ile Municipal Airport, Grosse Ile, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The local banner towing flight originated at the Grosse Ile Airport. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported when he picked up the banner, the tow rope caught on the right main landing gear instead of the tow hook. He said there were no problems with flying, so he flew a two hour banner flight. When he returned to land he stated the banner, "...created more drag than normal causing the aircraft to stall and impact the ground nose first." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5522G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5522G), registered now, S/N 15071022, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071022 - Airframe hours: 5390 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Radziewicz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1993, 201 hours before - Departed: 2G5 - Destination: 2G5 - Airport: 2G5, Grosse Ile Muni, runway 22, 4,980 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,490 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,390 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DET, 20 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 19931003039059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931003039059A), Oct 3, 1993: Cessna STC150, Detroit-Grosse, MI, Substantial damage. On banner pickup rope caught right main wheel. Flew trip. Unable drop banner. Stalled 6FT AGL landing. ## Other investigations on N5522G (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 FTW88FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA074), Feb 27, 1988: Cessna 150J (N5522G), Henderson, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.