# NTSB NYC04CA202: Cessna 305A, N5208G, Lawrence, MA, September 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2004, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Lawrence, MA - Coordinates: 42.716945, -71.123336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7169&lon=-71.1233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA202 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent pickup of a banner towline with the airplanes main landing gear after encountering gusting wind conditions. A factor related to the accident was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - towing/advertising/external load equipment - entangled (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis As the pilot initiated the banner pick up, moderate turbulence was encountered, and the airplane began to descend. The turbulence encounter lasted momentarily, and all of the pilot's visual cues indicated that the banner towline was picked up normally. As the airplane was climbing out, the pilot felt the airplane swerve to the right, and observed that the banner towline was hooked around the right main landing gear assembly. Realizing that the airplane was subjected to increased drag, the pilot lowered the nose, and performed a forced landing to a grass field. As the airplane neared the ground, the banner touched down first, and induced more drag on the airplane. The pilot added additional power to compensate; however, the airplane touched down hard, and continued down an embankment, where it came to rest inverted. The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 270 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2004, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5208G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after picking up a banner at the Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM), Lawrence, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local banner-tow flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. As the pilot initiated the banner pick up, moderate turbulence was encountered, and the airplane began to descend. The turbulence encounter lasted momentarily, and all of the pilot's visual cues indicated that the banner towline was picked up normally. As the airplane was climbing out, about 300 feet above the ground, the pilot looked over his left shoulder, and observed the banner leave the ground. At that moment, the pilot felt the airplane swerve to the right, and observed that the banner towline was hooked around the right main landing gear assembly. Realizing that the airplane was subjected to increased drag, the pilot lowered the nose, and performed a forced landing to a grass field. As the airplane neared the ground, the banner touched down first, and induced more drag on the airplane. The pilot added additional power to compensate; however, the airplane touched down hard, and continued down an embankment, where it came to rest inverted. The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 270 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5208G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5208G), registered now, S/N 21936, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21936 - Airframe hours: 10554 - Engines: Continental O-470 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fly an Ad LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2004, 90 hours before - Departed: LWM, Lawrence, MA - Airport: LWM, Lawrence Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 30, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 4,180 total, 2,070 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: LWM ## 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 20040903023369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040903023369A), Sep 3, 2004: Cessna 305A, Lawrence, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) On banner pick up, banner rope hooked onto right main gear, aircraft uncontrollable and crashed off end of crossing runway. ## Other investigations on N5208G (1) 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 NYC90LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA155), Jul 7, 1990: Cessna 305A (N5208G), Newburyport, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES FOR LANDING WITH A BANNER STILL ATTACHED, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF BANNER RELEASE MECHANISM. 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.