# NTSB CHI99LA349: Cessna 150, N40LM, Detroit, MI, September 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 1999, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Detroit, MI - Location: 42.4124° N, 83.0106° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at COLEMAN A YOUNG MUNI (DET), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4124&lon=-83.0106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47453/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA349 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the inadvertent spin. A factor was the pilot snagged the banner pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - towing/advertising/external load equipment - snagged (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported he had made two successful banner tows before the accident occurred. On the third banner tow, the hook '...missed the banner rope and grabbed one of the pick-up poles instead. It was my intent to keep my aircraft and attached pole over the airport to minimize the possibility of property damage or injury to people on the ground if the pole broke free of my hook.' The pilot attempted to stay within the airport boundary and he entered a climbing left turn. He reported, 'I added too much left rudder which immediately put me into a spin. Altitude at this point was approximately 300' AGL.' He reported he attempted to do a spin recovery but the airplane impacted the runway in a 30 degrees nose low attitude. The airplane bounced twice before impacting a jet blast wall. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 1999, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N40LM, was destroyed when it nose dived into the ground while in a downwind climb at the Detroit City Airport, Detroit, Michigan. The airplane was being used in banner tow operations. The airplane had hooked the banner, but cut it loose when the airplane appeared to stall. The pilot requested a go around and had turned downwind when the airplane impacted the ground. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Toledo, Ohio, at 1545 EDT and had flown to Detroit City Airport for the banner tow flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he had made two successful banner tows before the accident occurred. He reported that on the third banner tow, the hook "...missed the banner rope and grabbed one of the pick-up poles instead. It was my intent to keep my aircraft and attached pole over the airport to minimize the possibility of property damage or injury to people on the ground if the pole broke free of my hook." The pilot reported he attempted to stay within the airport boundary and he entered a climbing left turn. He reported, "I added too much left rudder which immediately put me into a spin. Altitude at this point was approximately 300' AGL." He reported he attempted to do a spin recovery, but the airplane impacted the runway in a 30 degrees nose low attitude. The airplane bounced twice before it impacted a jet blast wall. The pilot reported he was knocked unconscious during the impact sequence and the airplane was destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40LM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40LM-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N A1500418, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna A150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150l) (registry code 2071828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A1500418 - Airframe hours: 6255 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2H 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1999, 300 hours before - Departed: DET - Airport: DET, Detroit City, runway 7, 4,025 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 664 total, 284 in this make and model, 588 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 14 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DET ## 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 19990927030499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990927030499A), Sep 27, 1999: Cessna A150L, Detroit, MI, Destroyed. (.19) On September 27, 1999, at 1705 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N40LM, was destroyed when it nose dived into the ground while in a downwind climb at… 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.