# NTSB MIA98LA226: Piper PA-18-150, N3981Z, Conway, SC, August 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1998, 09:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Conway, SC - Coordinates: 33.789585, -79.150016 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7896&lon=-79.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 43698 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43698/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA226 ## Probable cause The total failure of the left wing forward and aft attachment fitting due to corrosion and fatigue during a banner tow pick-up resulting in a subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - wing,wing attachment fitting - failure,total - wing,wing attachment fitting - corroded (cause) - wing,wing attachment fitting - fatigue (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, other - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was attempting a banner tow pick up when the left wing collapsed. Examination of the left wing forward and aft attachment fitting by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed the failure of the brackets due to corrosion and fatigue. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1998, about 0955 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N3981Z, registered to Sky Signs Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 banner tow flight, crashed while attempting a banner tow pick-up at the Sky Signs private airstrip, Conway, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated about 5 minutes before the accident. An FAA inspector who observed the accident stated the pilot was picking up a banner on runway 34. The airplane picked up the banner and was in about a 30-degree nose-up attitude when the left wing collapsed. The airplane rolled to the right about 300 degrees, the nose pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground inverted. Examination of the left wing revealed the left forward lift strut attachment fitting was severely corroded. The separated left wing forward and aft strut attachment fitting, and the right wing forward and aft attachment fitting were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for analysis. Examination revealed the front face of the forward bracket was subjected to severe corrosion damage. The bracket separated approximately 2.8 inches away from its inboard lower end, at a location corresponding to a vertical position on assembly that is in line with or just below the lower spar cap of the forward spar. Evidence of corrosion was also apparent on the upper and lower sides of the bracket. Binocular microscope examination revealed that the most corrosion damage was on the front face of the bracket. Examination of the aft bracket revealed that it separated through the lower of the five holes used to attach the bracket to the front spar. Binocular microscope examination revealed that a portion of the aft bracket fracture was on a flat plane and contained crack arrest positions typical of fatigue cracking. (For additional information see NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report No. 99-49.) The components retained for further analysis were released to M. Jenkins, Sky Signs Inc., on February 12, 1999. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3981Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3981Z), registered now, S/N 18-7924, built 1963 (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: 18-7924 - Airframe hours: 9731 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Signs Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1998, 50 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: runway 34, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,050 total, 700 in this make and model, 500 in the last 90 days, 200 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYR ## 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 19980815020949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980815020949A), Aug 15, 1998: Piper PA18150, Conway, SC, Substantial damage. Acft was involved in a banner towing operation and while attempting to pick up the banner, acft stalled and crashed at a private airport. (.4) he pilot was… ## Other investigations on N3981Z (2) 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 DEN81DTI03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81DTI03), Jan 27, 1981: Piper PA-18 (N3981Z), Cascade, MT, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA68D0002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA68D0002), Jun 11, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N3981Z), Lincoln, MT, 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.