# NTSB MIA85LA177: Piper PA-18, N1211A, St.Petersburg, FL, May 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1985, 12:26 local (16:26 UTC)
- Place: St.Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.749498, -82.640136 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7495&lon=-82.6401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA177

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - engine assembly,ring - other (cause)
  - maintenance,major repair - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - leak
  - ignition system,spark plug - contamination (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - pickup equipment - other (cause)
  - load jettison - not possible
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ASSIGNED AN AIRCRAFT WITH A RECENTLY OVERHAULED ENGINE TO TOW A BANNER. HE PREFLIGHTED, STARTED AND RAN-UP THE ENGINE 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND LOST RPM ON MAGNETO CHECKS. AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE, COMPANYMAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CLEANED THE SPARKPLUGS AND RELEASED THE ACFT FOR FLIGHT. THE PILOT TEST FLEW THE ACFT AND STATED THAT IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. HE THEN LOWERED THE BANNER HOOK, DOVE DOWN TO ENGAGED THE BANNER AND STARTED TO CLIMB. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON THE BANNER TWICE & COULD NOT. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSECTING RUNWAY AND CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE OIL FOULED/WET. THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENG HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED & THERE WAS NO RECORD OF AN ENG RUN-IN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1211A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1211A-2009-04-22), registration cancelled 2009-04-22, S/N 18-824, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (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: 18-824
- Airframe hours: 6466
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Advertising Air Force
- Registered owner: Thomas W. Merrifield
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1985, 1 hours before
- Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 18, 2,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,013 total, 762 in this make and model, 2,013 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPG

## 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 19850526020689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850526020689A), May 26, 1985: Piper PA18, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. Lack of engine power after banner pickup. Crashed during return. New cylinders not run in, plugs fouled with oil

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.