# NTSB NYC92LA162: Piper PA-18A-150, N9374D, Ocean City, NJ, August 12, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1992, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ocean City, NJ - Location: 39.2635° N, 74.6075° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at OCEAN CITY MUNI (26N), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2635&lon=-74.6075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37206/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA162 ## Probable cause THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER ON LANDING ROLL DUE TO INADEQUATE AIRPLANE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS WHILE LANDING WITH THE BANNER ATTACHED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE USE OF ROPE INSTEAD OF STEEL CABLE, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR MOUNTED TOW HITCH, AND THE CROSSWIND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, other - sign towing equipment - jammed (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - acft/equip,inadequate handling/perf capabilities, production/design personnel (cause) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis DURING BANNER PICKUP THE TOW ROPE BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE RELEASE HOOK AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BANNER UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE FLIGHT. LANDING WITH A RIGHT CROSSWIND AND THE BANNER STILL ATTACHED, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AS HE SLOWED, AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT SIDE, AND NOSED OVER. THE BANNER ATTACH POINT WAS A HOOK ON THE END OF A ROD, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHICH IS FORWARD OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY. THIS MADE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VERY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE AS THE AIRPLANE SLOWED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR FAMILIAR WITH BANNER TOWING, ROPE IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO TWISTING AROUND THE RELEASE HOOK THAN METAL CABLES. IN ADDITION, HE SAID THAT TAILWHEEL MOUNTED TOW HITCHES ARE SAFER THAN THOSE MOUNTED ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS DISCLOSED BOTH TOW HITCH SYSTEMS AND ROPE ARE IN COMMON USE FOR BANNER TOWING. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9374D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9374D-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 18-6639, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 186639 - Airframe hours: 8570 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: General Aerial Advertising - Registered owner: General Aerial Advertising - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1992, 108 hours before - Departed: 1N6, BARGINTOWN, NJ - Airport: 26N, Ocean City Minicipal, runway 6, 2,540 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,265 total, 148 in this make and model, 1,005 as pilot in command, 414 in the last 90 days, 123 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °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 19920812031529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920812031529A), Aug 12, 1992: Piper PA18A150, Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. Banner tow line wrapped around tail on landing. Lost control. Ran off runway. Gear attached line easy to fowl. ## Other investigations on N9374D (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 NYC95FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95FA212), Sep 3, 1995: Piper PA-18A-150 (N9374D), Egg Harbor, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during pull-up from a banner pickup, which resulted in a stall and collision with trees before recovering from the stall. 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.