Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berlin, Maryland 21811
Friday, July 5, 1991 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING AN AIRBORNE PICK UP OF A BANNER WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL CAUGHT THE BANNER AND UNINTENTIONALLY, A SECOND BANNER. HE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE BOTH BANNERS BUT THEY WERE ENTANGLED WITH THE TAILWHEEL. THE ADDED DRAG CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO LOSE ALTITUDE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT CONCENTRATED ON TRYING TO FIND A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND, BUT THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO A WOODED AREA AND STRUCK SOME TREES, ABOUT A HALF-MILE FROM THE AIRFIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE UNSUITABLE PLACEMENT OF TWO BANNERS (IMPROPER PLANNING) BY OTHER PERSONNEL CAUSING AN UNINTENTIONAL PICKUP OF BOTH BANNERS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BERLIN
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21811
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SBY
Elevation of weather observation facility 56
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1104
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44158
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:31AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5BJ
NTSB Number BFO91LA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier 7KCAB
Aircraft Serial Number 187
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OCEAN AERIAL ADS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 813
Aircraft Owner City OCEAN CITY
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21842
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OCEAN AERIAL ADS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 813
Operator City OCEAN CITY
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21842
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --