# NTSB FTW96LA172: Cessna 305A, N5245G, Erie, CO, April 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 1996, 14:29 local (20:29 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.019634, -105.040466 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0196&lon=-105.0405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19806/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA172 ## Probable cause entanglement of the tow banner during banner pickup, and subsequent failure or inability to jettison the banner. A factor relating to the accident was: high gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, maneuvering - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - towing/advertising/external load equipment - entangled (cause) - climb - not possible (cause) - load jettison - not attained (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis After taking off from runway 15, the pilot initiated a banner pickup in winds that were from 230 degrees at 24 with gusts to 33 knots. The pilot reported that the banner became tangled during pickup, which created more drag than the airplane could overpower. According to him, 'the banner opened up like a parachute and raised above the airplane which made the release mechanism inoperable and unable to release.' Subsequently, the airplane touched down in a field approximately 1,200 feet beyond the departure end of the runway and was damaged. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 1996, at 1429 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5245G, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear collapsed during a forced landing near Erie, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was operating as a banner tow flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The aircraft had been airborne approximately 1 minute when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he had picked up a banner for a banner tow operation. Strong winds caught the banner and the pilot could not control the aircraft. Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as being from 230 degrees magnetic at 24 knots with gusts to 33 knots. The flight had departed from runway 15 and came to rest approximately 1,200 feet beyond the departure end of the runway in an open field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5245G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5245G-2000-06-06), registration cancelled 2000-06-06, S/N 21327 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21327 - Engines: Continental O-470 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Chris E. Turner, doing business as Crosswind Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Jerry Finch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 48V ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,340 total, 60 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 170 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 24 knots, gusting 33 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960417047159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960417047159A), Apr 17, 1996: Cessna 305, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) [privacy data omitted] banner twisted, forced landing in field. ## Other investigations on N5245G (3) 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 DEN00LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA024), Dec 3, 1999: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Akron, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the four bolts which attach the right main landing gear assembly to the landing gear strut. - [NTSB NYC98LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA181), Sep 5, 1998: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper inflight decision, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. - [NTSB DEN88LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA052), Jan 10, 1988: Cessna 305A (N5245G), Littleton, CO, substantial damage 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.