NEW SMYRNA BCH, FL, USA
N57436
BELLANCA 7GCBC
The commercial pilot was observed by witnessess attempting a banner pickup. The airplane flew through the pickup poles too low, the pickup hook missed the pickup bridle, and the bridle wrapped around the tailwheel. The airplane pitched up about 40 degrees, an increase in engine power was heard just before the airplane stalled, rolled left, and collided with the terrain.
On January 29, 1994, about 1402 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N57436, registered to David M. Upson, leased to Air Repair, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 banner tow flight, crashed in the vicinity of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport about 2 minutes before the accident. Witnesses stated they observed the airplane attempt a banner pickup. The airplane flew through the pickup poles too low, the pickup hook missed the banner pickup bridle, and the bridle wrapped around the tailwheel. The airplane pitched up about 40 degrees, a power application was heard just before the airplane stalled, rolled left, and collided with the terrain.
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) while maneuvering, resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall) and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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