- Date
- March 10, 1984, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Indian Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N88168Piper J-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840310043439A
- Case key
- 31092
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a banner towing operation, the plt descended from 1200 ft to 500 to tow over water near a Beach. When he advanced the throttle to level off there was no response to throttle movement. The eng continued operating at about 1500 RPM. Subsequently, he ditched the acft about 80 yds from the shore. An investigation revealed that a clamp, holding the mechanical linkage to the throttle, had come loose.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N88168
- Reported as
- Piper J-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15785
- Airframe hours
- 3,500
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas Merrifield, doing business as Advertising Air Force
- Registered owner
- Thomas Merrifield
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- SPG · Clearwater, FL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 12,161 total · 2,979 in this make and model · 10,161 as pilot in command · 2,657 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 10 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.