Inexperienced Banner plane pilot flies into a building

The newly-hired banner tow pilot departed on his first banner-tow flight away from the training airport. After completing several circuits the pilot was flying on a southerly heading with an 8 knot easterly wind about 1/4 mile offshore, which was about half the distance he was trained to be offshore. The pilot initiated a right turn descended to 250 ft mean sea level and flew over a heavily congested area with tall buildings nearby.

The Banner Flight Went Inland

The airplane was seen flying about 250 ft above ground level over a heavily-congested area before it impacted the 16th and 17th floors of a 19-story building while in a right turn. Although witnesses provided varying accounts of how the engine was operating near the end of the flight, a sound spectrum study conducted with video taken of the airplane just before the impact indicated that the engine was operating near its maximum available power at the time of impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

The abnormal engine sounds reported by several witnesses were likely attributed to be from the lack of a muffler of the exhaust system. Given the lack of any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, it was likely that the pilot did not adequately compensate for the wind conditions, which would have pushed the airplane inland during a right turn to reverse course. The operator reported that banner-tow flights were performed between 500 and 700 ft above mean sea level while offshore.

At no time, except during takeoff or landing or unless authorized by air traffic control, were pilots expected to fly at altitudes less than 500 ft. According to training records, the pilot had received 17 hours of banner tow flight training, He completed a.6-hour solo banner tow training flight in the airport vicinity 3 days before the accident. Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance while maneuvering during a banner tow flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a 19-story building in a heavily congested area.

Contributing to the accident were the easterly wind conditions, the pilot's total lack of experience in banner tow operations, and his inadvertent flight over a densely populated area with numerous tall buildings nearby

The banner operation had a defined operating environment: the pilot was expected to remain offshore at a prescribed altitude except during takeoff, landing or when specifically authorized. The investigation record indicates that the aircraft instead came inland over a heavily congested area.

Training records showed that the pilot had completed 17 hours of banner-tow training and a recent solo banner-tow training flight near the airport. The investigation nevertheless identified the pilots lack of experience in banner operations as a contributing factor.

The building impact was not a high-altitude event. The aircraft was observed at roughly 250 feet above ground level while over the congested area. During the right turn it struck the 16th and 17th floors of the 19-story building. The combination of low altitude, wind and the proximity of tall structures is therefore central to the documented reconstruction.

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