Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bermuda Dunes, California 92201
Saturday, April 1, 1989 11:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A BANNER TOW OPERATION, TWO BANNERS WERE SET ON THE GROUND FOR PICKUP. JUST PRIOR TO PICKUP BY ONE OF THE AIRPLANES, A GUST OF WIND BLEW ONE BANNER ON TOP OF THE OTHER . THE AIRPLANE PICKED UP BOTH BANNERS WITHOUT THE PILOT KNOWING. THE GROUND PERSONNEL NOTIFIED THE PILOT WHO STARTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO RELEASE THE BANNERS. HOWEVER, THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNERS AT LOW ALTITUDE AND SPEED AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. THE PILOT OPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER ASSISTANCE BY GROUND PERSONNEL WHO INADVERTENTLY OVERLOADED THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN JETTISONING THE LOAD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City BERMUDA DUNES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92201
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 50
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 233
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1303
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38551
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61315
NTSB Number LAX89LA143
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier 150J
Aircraft Serial Number 15070958
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3340
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLOCH, CLIFFORD D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12478 REDBUD ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DESERT HOT SPR
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92240
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DESERT AIR ADS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12331 PALM DR.
Operator City DESERT HOT SPR
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92240
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BERMUDA DUNES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1110
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Landing
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 --