# NTSB NYC88LA180: Champion 7GCAA, N11088, Lakewood, NJ, July 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1988, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Lakewood, NJ
- Location: 40.0669° N, 74.1776° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKEWOOD (N12), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0669&lon=-74.1776&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA180

## Probable cause

LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING, DUE TO A BANNER TOWING ROPE BEING WRAPPED AROUND THE LEFT RUDDER HORN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - sign towing equipment - entangled (cause)
  - rudder - restricted (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - flight control,rudder - jammed (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

DURING A BANNER PICK-UP THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE RUDDER WAS JAMMED FULL LEFT BY THE BANNER TOW ROPE, AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE RUNWAY AND HIT TWO PARKED AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11088](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11088-2016-12-05), registration cancelled 2016-12-05, S/N 74 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa) (registry code 21101N8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 74
- Airframe hours: 1773
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: O'Brien Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1988, 20 hours before
- Departed: N12, LAKEWOOD, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: N12, Lakewood, runway 6, 3,457 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880711026369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880711026369A), Jul 11, 1988: Bbavia 7GCAA, Lakewood, NJ, Substantial damage. Banner tow rope fouled rudder on pickup. Landed,lost control and struck two parked aircraft. Unable release banner.

## Other investigations on N11088 (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 NYC67F0251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67F0251), Sep 24, 1966: Aeronca 7GCA (N11088), Warwick, NJ, 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.

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