Cessna 172M N61929

Summary

On 26 July 2013 at about 18:20 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N61929, operated by High Exposure Inc, was involved in an accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one 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

26 July 2013 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM)

Coordinates

40.1956, -74.1339

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N61929

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

High Exposure Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmingdale → Woodbine

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA339

1 person had minor injuries.

The airplane’s loss of lift shortly after picking up a banner for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while towing a banner through 300 feet above ground level (agl) with the engine at full power, the airplane experienced a sudden and abrupt loss of altitude shortly after picking up a banner. The pilot turned the airplane left to try to gain additional climb performance, but the airplane continued to descend. At 200 feet agl, the airplane was still descending, so the pilot pushed all three tow releases to release the banner. However, the banner did not release, so he continued turning the airplane left to find a suitable area to perform an emergency landing. The pilot performed a forced landing on a gravel path between two tree lines, and the left wing subsequently impacted trees. The banner released shortly before impact, and the tail banner towline and tow hook were located along the wreckage path leading to the main wreckage. The pilot did not notice a loss of engine rpm during the flight. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.