Cessna 170A N1200D

Summary

On 31 January 1998 at about 19:18 local time, a Cessna 170A registered N1200D was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, 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

31 January 1998 at 19:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Opa Locka West (X46)

Coordinates

25.9409, -80.3202

Aircraft

Cessna 170A

Registration

N1200D

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

MIA98FA064

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during a banner pickup, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. The lack of altitude for a stall recovery was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the pilot prepared a personal banner and flew it over his sisters house, then dropped it at the departure airport. After he landed, he asked the owner of the banner towing company if he could fly a larger banner around the traffic pattern. The owner agreed, and the pilot took off for another banner flight. The pilot performed a long, low, straight approach toward the banner, picked it up, then while climbing, dropped the banner. The airplane was observed to continue climbing to about 200 feet, then the wings were observed to rock. The airplane then rolled to the right, pitched nose down, and impacted the ground. Witnesses reported that the engine sounded steady from the time of the banner pickup to the in-flight loss of control. Examination of the flight controls and flap system revealed no preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction. The airplane was equipped with the originally installed (standard type) fixed pitch propeller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.