Culver LFA N41729
11 September 1993 · Sonoma, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 September 1993 at about 16:25 local time, a Culver LFA registered N41729, operated by William H. Lawson, was involved in an accident near Sonoma, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sonoma, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sonoma Valley (0Q3)
- Coordinates
- 38.2401, -122.4601
- Aircraft
- Culver LFA
- Registration
- N41729
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- William H. Lawson
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Willits
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93LA349
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the airport management's failure to provide notice of the banner operation and to close the runway. An additional cause was the banner operator's failure to ensure that the runway on which he placed his banner equipment was closed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot commenced taking off from runway 34 and was unaware that a tow plane's banner had been suspended across the runway. Seconds before impact, the pilot observed the obstruction and attempted to avoid it by abruptly pulling up. The airplane's landing gear snagged the pickup wire and the airplane crashed into an adjacent open field. Airport management gave the banner company personnel permission to locate the banner on the runway and failed to close the runway. The banner company personnel failed to abide by its FAA waiver for banner operations which limited banner placement to at least '500 feet from any active runway, person ... and aircraft.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Culver LFA accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1988 | Culver LFA | Dumas, Arkansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jun 2000 | Culver LFA | Moab, Utah, United States | A Pair of Jacks, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 2000 | Culver LFA | Ione, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1984 | Culver LFA | Plattsburg, Missouri, United States | Edward P. Dennis | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 2014 | Culver LFA | Limington, Maine, United States | Tate Clarke W | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jul 1970 | Culver LFA | Ansonia, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1993 | Cessna 310H | Lancaster, California, United States | Yehiem Konski | Fatal | 6 |
| 14 Nov 1993 | Cessna 182 | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1993 | Cessna 172P | Sun City, California, United States | Hiser Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1993 | Robinson R44 | El Monte, California, United States | Benjamin F. Venti, SR. | Fatal | 3 |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Piper PA-38-112 | Fresno, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1993 | Beechcraft A35 | Tulare, California, United States | Rent and Lease Programs | Fatal | 2 |