Piper PA-18-135 N9951Q

Summary

On 23 May 2005 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-18-135 registered N9951Q was involved in an accident near Conway, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2005 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Conway, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Field

Coordinates

33.9750, -79.0106

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-135

Registration

N9951Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Conway → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05FA086

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after releasing a banner aerial sign, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the flight instructor's improper supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two witnesses observed the banner tow airplane release its banner aerial sign at an airstrip adjacent to a highway. The airplane made a steep pitch up attitude followed by a steep left turn towards the highway at an altitude lower than the treetops. The left wing was described by one witness in a near vertical position with the ground before the nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane collided with the ground. The OWNERS HANDBOOK, states in SECTION II, TAKE-OFF, CLIMB, AND STALLS,…"The gross weight power off stalling speed with full flaps in the Super Cub 135 is 38 M.P.H.; with flaps up the stalling speed increases about 4 M.P.H." Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.