Cessna 182A N5175D

Summary

On 5 July 2011 at about 03:35 local time, a Cessna 182A registered N5175D, operated by Sky Signs Inc, was involved in an accident near Vancouver, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 2011 at 03:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Vancouver, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Pearson Field (KVUO)

Coordinates

45.6189, -122.6539

Aircraft

Cessna 182A

Registration

N5175D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sky Signs Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vancouver → Vancouver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA309

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly engage the banner tow rope with the airplane's tail hook.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The banner tow pilot reported that he approached the banner tow pickup point to catch the rope with his tail hook. Shortly after his initial pitch up maneuver to hook the rope, the pilot observed through a small mirror that the rope was not attached to his tail hook. Subsequently the banner lifted off the ground and the pilot could see that the banner rope looked like it was resting on or around his right horizontal stabilizer. Photos taken of the airplane in the air by a witness prior to the accident show the tow rope hooked around the nose gear and looped over the right horizontal stabilizer. Unable to release the banner, the pilot returned to land on the grassy area next to the runway as he was concerned that the banner might get snagged on obstacles located around the runway. As the pilot began his landing approach at approximately a 300 foot per minute descent and was crossing the west end of the runway, he brought the throttle to idle, added full flaps, and tried to maintain 60 mph. As the airplane descended the banner contacted the ground resulting in a significant amount of drag to the airplane. According to the pilot the airspeed began to drop and he attempted to maintain it by further lowering the nose. The airplane contacted the ground hard and the firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.