# NTSB ERA22FA315: Piper PA12, N3703M, Middle Township, NJ, July 16, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: July 16, 2022, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Middle Township, NJ - Coordinates: 39.064843, -74.90856 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0648&lon=-74.9086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 105485 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22FA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105485/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105485 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA315 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a missed banner pickup, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The banner tow pilot had worked for the operator for about 2 months, and the accident flight was the first flight of the day. The pilot departed from the runway and flew a left traffic pattern to pick up the banner at the approach end of the opposite runway, which was normal procedure. Witnesses stated that the airplane descended between the poles, missed the banner, and the pilot initiated an aggressive, almost vertical climb. One witness stated that it appeared as though the accident pilot "kicked rudder" at the top of the climb to see if he had picked up the banner. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall/spin and descended to ground contact. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the banner pickup attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover. ## Factual narrative FAA publication FS-I-8700-1 (Rev. 1), “Information For Banner Towing Operations” stated: …Stalls during the banner pickup procedure constitute one of the more frequent causes of banner towing operational accidents. A stall occurs when an airfoil reaches a critical angle of attack (AOA) and is a function of wing loading, independent of airspeed. In fact, an excessively abrupt rotation of an airplane during a pickup, or a snap or steep turn after a missed pickup, may be sufficient to precipitate an accelerated stall… On July 16, 2022, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3703M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Middle Township, New Jersey. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner-tow flight. According to the operator, who witnessed the accident, the pilot was hired about 2 months before the accident. The airplane was fueled to capacity before to the flight. On the accident flight, the pilot departed runway 32 and flew a left traffic pattern to pick up the banner at the approach end of runway 14, which was normal procedure. The airplane descended toward the banner, but missed the haul line during the pickup attempt. The airplane then climbed nose-high and stalled, spinning right and impacting the runway. Engine noise was consistent throughout the accident sequence. Another witness stated that he was seated in an airplane, with the engine running, waiting to take off next and pick up a banner. He observed the accident airplane come down between the poles, miss the banner, and the accident pilot made a really “hard snap,” climbing almost vertically. It looked to the witness as though the accident pilot "kicked rudder" at the top of his climb to see if he had picked up the banner. The witness added that he believed this caused the right wing to come out from the slipstream, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. The wreckage came to rest nose-down, oriented about a 320° magnetic heading, and no debris path was observed. The wreckage remained intact. Both wings exhibited leading edge damage and buckling, with the left wing exhibiting more damage than the right. The ailerons remained attached to their respective wing. The empennage remained intact and was canted right. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit. Measurement of the horizontal stabilizer trim jackscrew corresponded to a nose-down trim position; 14 threads were observed, with 17 threads being full nose-down and 1 thread being full nose-up. The cockpit area was crushed, but the pilot’s 4-point harness remained latched and was cut by rescue personnel. The engine remained attached to the airframe and the propeller remained attached to the engine. One propeller blade remained undamaged, while the other exhibited s-bending and leading-edge gouging. The top spark plugs were removed from the engine. Their electrodes were intactand gray in color, except for the No. 4 spark plug, which was oil soaked. The rocker covers were removed and oil was observed throughout the engine. Both magnetos were removed from the engine and sparked at all leads when rotated by hand. When the propeller was rotated by hand, crankshaft, camshaft, and valvetrain continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. The carburetor butterfly valve was in the open position. The carburetor floats and needle remained intact and the fuel screen was absent of debris. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3703M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3703M-2024-06-04), registration cancelled 2024-06-04, S/N 12-2648 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA12 (NO SERIES EXISTS) - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2648 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 15117 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Paramount Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Paramount Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 2022, 87 hours before - Airport: JY04, Paramount Air Airport, runway 32, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 707 total, 203 in this make and model, 259 in the last 90 days, 138 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: WWD, 3 nm away - METAR: KWWD 161330Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN 016 26/22 A3013 ## 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 20220716007159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220716007159A), Jul 16, 2022: Piper PA-12, Cape May Court, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. A Piper cruiser (PA12) was attempting a banner pick up maneuver at Paramount Airport (JY04). As the pilot attempted to pick-up the banner, he missed the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105485. 8.8 MB in all. - Interview summary (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Police supplementary investigation report (witness interviews) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Supplemental%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook (item 3, PDF, 17 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from maintenance logbooks (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 692 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524942&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524472&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14524952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 9 pages, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14525027&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.