Cessna 170B N2971D

Summary

On 28 July 1993 at about 16:56 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N2971D, operated by Peter B Hellgren, was involved in an accident near Woodbine, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1993 at 16:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Woodbine, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Woodbine (1N4)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N2971D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Peter B Hellgren

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA140

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT MAINTAINING TOO STEEP OF AN ANGLE OF CLIMB AND AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION WAS A FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF AN AIRPLANE INVOLVED IN A BANNER TOW OPERATION REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30 TO PICK UP A BANNER. HE STATED THAT HE DID A ROUTINE PICK UP FOLLOWED BY A CLIMB. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS ANGLE OF ATTACK WAS STEEP AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. HE STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND REPORTED THAT THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH LITTLE OR NO WIND. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO FLUTTER BEFORE FALLING TO THE GROUND AND IMPACTING THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE INVESTIGATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR BANNER TOWING SIX DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.