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.

The official record

This occurrence was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board under accident number ERA19FA112. The Board records the event as occurring on 1 March 2019 at Fort Lauderdale, FL. The aircraft is identified as a PIPER PA25, registration N145AB. The highest injury level recorded is fatal.

The Board’s record additionally lists phase of flight recorded as maneuvering; maneuvering, weather conditions recorded as Visual (VMC), operating under 091.

The investigation is closed. The Board determined the probable cause to be:

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.

NTSB, accident ERA19FA112

A probable cause is the Board’s determination of what brought the occurrence about. It is reached after the investigation closes and supersedes any earlier account, including contemporary reporting and anything inferred from the recording alone.

The full record can be retrieved from the NTSB’s public case system, CAROL, by searching accident number ERA19FA112.

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