# NTSB ERA23LA371: Cessna 150G, N2880S, Cross Keys, NJ, September 14, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 14, 2023, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Cross Keys, NJ - Coordinates: 39.705476, -75.033003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7055&lon=-75.0330&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193065/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193065 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA371 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the banner pickup, which resulted in a low altitude aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the banner tow airplane performed a normal takeoff and stayed in the airport traffic pattern for the banner pickup. The pilot described that after successfully capturing the pickup rope, he climbed with the engine at full power, the flaps retracted, and at a speed of about 45 to 50 mph. The airplane drifted left before the banner left the ground, and the pilot attempted to correct the flight path to the right. The airplane and banner subsequently climbed above the nearby trees, after which the pilot released the banner. The airplane then abruptly pitched up, the right wing “dropped,” and the airplane entered a 180-degree spin to the right that continued to ground impact. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged during the impact with trees and terrain. The operator reported, and a post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed, that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane and its flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. The operator also reported that it was their company’s standard procedure to climb the airplane at a speed of 55 mph with the flaps extended 10 degrees in order to achieve best climb out. Additionally, when releasing a banner, the prescribed procedure included pushing forward on the control yoke to prevent an abrupt pitch up. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot climbed at too low an airspeed during the banner pickup, resulting in a loss of control, his decision to release the banner, and the uncorrected pitch up of the airplane that ultimately resulted in the aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2880S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2880S), registered now, S/N 15066780, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066780 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 8601 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: High Exposure Inc - Registered owner: High Exposure Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 2023, 240 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 17N, Cross Keys, runway 27, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,032 total, 320 in this make and model, 912 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 58 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 9 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 20230914010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230914010469A), Sep 14, 2023: Cessna 150G, Williamstown, NJ, Substantial damage. After a banner pickup, the airmen elected to drop the banner for an unknown reason. After dropping the banner the aircraft pitched up and dropped the left… ## Other investigations on N2880S (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 FTW68F0367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68F0367), Nov 27, 1967: Cessna 150G (N2880S), Lancaster, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193065. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16588456&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA371_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16612358&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20FAA%20Exam%20LA371-Rel.pdf - Mfr pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16598355&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20LA371-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16598712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigative%20photos%20LA371-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.