Piper PA-25-260 N4844Y

Summary

On 22 August 1993 at about 14:05 local time, a Piper PA-25-260 registered N4844Y was involved in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 August 1993 at 14:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Plymouth Muni (PLY)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-260

Registration

N4844Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC93FA166

1 person died.

was the failure of the pilot to attain proper alignment for the banner pickup which resulted in picking up the banner tow rope on the wing, and an inflight loss of control and uncontrolled contact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE CAME IN FOR A BANNER PICKUP. FOUR WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ALIGNED FOR THE PICKUP AND WAS ANGLING IN FROM THE RIGHT. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE PICKUP POLES, THE RIGHT WING WAS OBSERVED TO DROP MOMENTARILY, AND THEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A CLIMB WITH POWER. THREE OF THE WITNESSES SAID THE ROPE FOR THE BANNER WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT WING. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 75 TO 100 FEET, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DESCEND, ROLLED RIGHT TO THE INVERTED POSITION, AND IMPACTED INVERTED, IN A RIGHT WING LOW POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE TOW ROPE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT MOVED FAR ENOUGH OR GAINED ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO MOVE THE BANNER WHICH STILL LAY ON THE GROUND IN ITS PICKUP POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.