Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-25-235 N7788Z

25 September 2005 · Opa Locka, Florida, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 25 September 2005 at about 15:30 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N7788Z was involved in an accident near Opa Locka, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was 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 15:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Opa Locka, Florida, United States
Nearest airport
Opa Locka (KOPF)
Coordinates
25.9069, -80.2783
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Registration
N7788Z
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Banner Tow
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Pembrook Pine → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA05CA163

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, during a banner pick up, resulting in a stall/mush and collision with terrain during the uncontrolled descent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he departed from the North Perry Airport and proceeded toward the Opa Locka Airport to pick up his first banner of the day. He noted thunderstorms in the area but their banner operations were still ongoing. Two of his coworkers picked up their banner before him. He deployed the hook and flew the pattern for the pick up. Upon approaching the poles, he applied full engine power and picked up the rope. He pulled up and upon the ground crew signaling that the banner is about to be lifted, he proceeded to lower the nose of the airplane, which was about 175 feet above the ground. At that point, instead of the usual leveling off, the airplane started to sink and upon picking up the banner, the sink rate accelerated rapidly. He waited about 2 seconds for things to normalize while ensuring all engine levers were in the full power position. The sink rate kept the same. By now he was sure that a hard landing was imminent so he released the banner and landed straight ahead.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-25 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
5 Jul 2005 Piper PA-25
N6289Z
Cape May, New Jersey, United States - No injuries -
5 Jun 2005 Piper PA-25-235
N7220Z
Waller, Texas, United States - No injuries -
29 Apr 2005 Piper PA-25-235
N4514Y
Houston, Texas, United States - Minor injuries -
12 Jun 2005 Piper PA-25-260
N4768Y
Geraldine, Montana, United States - Minor injuries -
21 Aug 2005 Piper PA-25-235
N7399Z
Colquitt, Georgia, United States - Fatal 1
15 Jun 2005 Piper PA-25-260
N4754Y
Southampton, New Jersey, United States - No injuries -

All 1,925 records for this type

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Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
10 Apr 2005 Shorethose KITFOX SERIES 5
N704LS
Cresent City, Florida, United States - No injuries -
14 Feb 2005 Beechcraft K35
N634Q
Leesburg, Florida, United States Bryan Yuridel Fatal 2
13 Apr 2005 Beechcraft BONANZA
N448T
South Bay, Florida, United States - Fatal 1
15 Feb 2005 Beechcraft 35-C33
N3NM
Clearwater, Florida, United States - Fatal 2
2 Mar 2005 Air Tractor AT-602
N5006V
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13 Apr 2005 Cessna 172
N716SD
Kissimmee, Florida, United States Orlando Flight Training No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States