Sky Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Conway, South Carolina 29527
Monday, May 23, 2005 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Two witnesses observed the banner tow airplane release its banner aerial sign at an airstrip adjacent to a highway. The airplane made a steep pitch up attitude followed by a steep left turn towards the highway at an altitude lower than the treetops. The left wing was described by one witness in a near vertical position with the ground before the nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane collided with the ground. The OWNERS HANDBOOK, states in SECTION II, TAKE-OFF, CLIMB, AND STALLS,…"The gross weight power off stalling speed with full flaps in the Super Cub 135 is 38 M.P.H.; with flaps up the stalling speed increases about 4 M.P.H." Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after releasing a banner aerial sign, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the flight instructor's improper supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Conway
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29527
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335830N
Event Location Longitude 0790038W
Event Location Airport Sky Field
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 25
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID MYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 25
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.66
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18561
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date May 23 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbia FSDO-13

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9951Q
NTSB Number ATL05FA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-135
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-3570
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 14513
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sky Signs LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6920 Highway 701 South
Aircraft Owner City Conway
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29527
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Banner Tow
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Conway
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Aug 19 2005 3:15PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --