Warrington Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selbyville, Delaware 19975
Saturday, May 17, 1986 12:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE A BANNER AT THE DROP ZONE. THE ACFT WAS REPORTEDLY EQUIPPED WITH SEPARATE TOWING AND RELEASE MECHANISMS, SO THAT UP TO FOUR BANNERS COULD BE TOWED IN SUCCESSION WITHOUT THE ACFT HAVING TO LAND. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE BANNER IN TOW DURING THE ACCIDENT HAD FAILED TO RELEASE. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION; WHEN THE SUSPECT MECHANISM WAS ACTUATED AFTER THE CRASH, IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE OTHER MECHANISMS WAS IN THE RELEASE POSITION. AFTER THE ATTEMPTED BANNER DROP, THE PLT REPORTEDLY BEGAN A CLIMB WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE BANNER HAD RELEASED, AND DID NOT USE THE CLIMB PROCEDURE NECESSARY FOR A BANNER IN TOW.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SELBYVILLE
Event State DELAWARE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19975
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WARRINGTON AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ON7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 150
Airport Elevation 26
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 1366
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31758
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4004J
NTSB Number BFO86LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15065304
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 Apr 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS J. CALVANELLI
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1, P.O. BOX 571-J
Aircraft Owner City COVINGTON
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70433
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ATLANTIC COASTAL AERIAL ADVT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 38A RT 1
Operator City SELBYVILLE
Operator State DE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 19975
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) Other Work Use
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 Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2250
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --