# NTSB MIA08LA135: Piper PA-18-150, N6851Z, N Myrtle Beach, SC, July 3, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2008, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: N Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.819137, -78.670654 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8191&lon=-78.6707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68392/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA135 ## Probable cause The failure of the banner tow operator to inspect banners for deterioration, resulting in a portion of a banner separating in-flight from another banner tow airplane, and colliding with the accident banner tow airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was towing a banner northeast, parallel to the beach at 500 feet agl. Another company airplane was towing a banner southwest at 600 feet agl, about 1,000 feet off the shoreline parallel to the beach, when its banner separated aft of the main panel. The separated banner collided with the propeller of the airplane at 500 feet agl, and the engine stopped. The pilot made a forced landing to the ocean, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the banner revealed the material was deteriorated and tore easily by hand. There are no Federal Aviation Administration procedures for construction, maintenance, or inspection of banners. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2008, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N6851Z, call sign Sky 12, registered to Sky Signs LLC, operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 banner tow flight, had an in flight collision with a separated banner from another Piper PA-18-150, N2991Z, call sign Sky 7. The pilot made a forced landing to the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the shoreline at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Sky Field, Conway, South Carolina, on July 8, 2008, at 0815. The pilot of Sky 12 stated he was at 500 feet, northeast bound parallel with the beach near Grand Strand Airport when he observed a banner floating directly in front of his airplane. He took evasive action by attempting to dive below the banner. The banner became entangled with the propeller and the engine stopped. He turned the airplane towards the beach, dropped his banner, made a May Day call, and initiated a forced landing near the surf line in the Atlantic Ocean. The airplane collided with the water, and nosed over inverted. The pilot of Sky 7 stated he flew up the beach about 4 to 5 miles north of Grand Strand Airport, turned out to sea, made a right turn, and proceeded back down the beach on a southwest heading parallel to the beach. While turning he called Sky 12 on an air-to-air frequency and they informed each other of their position. Sky 7 then switched his radio to the Grand Strand Airport air traffic control tower radio frequency, and continued the flight about 1,000 feet off the shore at 600 feet. When the airplane was abeam runway 23 at Grand Strand Airport he felt an increase in airspeed and looked back towards the rear of his airplane. His banner had separated aft of the main panel. An ocean breeze was blowing the separated banner inland towards the beach. He observed Sky 12, proceeding northeast bound, initiate a dive in an attempt to avoid the separated banner. The banner collided with Sky 12's propeller and the engine stopped. He heard Sky 12 declare an emergency and watched as the airplane made a forced landing to the water near the beach. Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the separated banner. The FAA stated, "The banner was inspected and showed signs of material failure." A company employee and an FAA inspector were able to tear the accident banner with minimal effort after both had just stated, "the banner material looked new and strong and should not have torn easily." A company seamstress constructed the banner used by Sky Signs LLC, and there are no FAA written procedures concerning banner construction. Sky Signs LLC is not required nor does it maintain any records concerning the age of the banner, number of banner tows, or who inspects the banner prior to a banner tow flight. There was no evidence that the banner of the Sky 7 airplane was struck, and cut in half by the Sky 12 airplane, while Sky 7 was towing the banner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6851Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6851Z-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 18-8134, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8134 - Airframe hours: 2515.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Signs LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2008, 8 hours before - Departed: Conway, SC - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,808 total, 659 in this make and model, 1,643 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KCRE, 1 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 20080703855229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080703855229A), Jul 3, 2008: Piper PA18150, North Myrtle B, SC, Destroyed. (-23) N6851Z was struck by a section of tow banner from another aircraft flying adjacent and in the opposite direction at/or slightly higher altitude. N6851Z… 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.