MYRTLE BEACH, SC, USA
N6078Z
PIPER PA-25
THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT IN A THUNDERSTORM AND IMPACTED THE WATER DURING A BEACHSIDE BANNER TOWING OPERATION. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING INLAND ABOUT 1/2 HR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT HIS ACFT WAS 'OVERTAKEN' BY THE STORMS BEFORE HE COULD RETURN TO HIS BASE. HE ADDED FULL POWER AND RELEASED THE BANNER WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED THE DOWNDRAFT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE HIGH SINK RATE THAT DEVELOPED. THE PLT WAS ASKED IF HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE THUNDERSTORM AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL. THE PLT REPLIED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THEM, BUT THAT HE COULDN'T SHUT DOWN BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS JUST BECAUSE A THUNDERSTORM WAS WITHIN 10 MILES OF HIS OPERATIONS AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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