The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) released a new video from its Early Analysis series providing an initial examination of a recent accident.
On May 17, 2023, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee towing a billboard banner crashed over Hollywood, Florida. Sadly, the pilot — the sole occupant on board the airplane — died in the accident. No one on the ground was hurt.
The pilot picked up the banner from North Perry Airport (KHWO) in Hollywood, Florida, and was headed to fly it along the beach near the Miami coast. But something went wrong as the Pawnee was en route.
“In Early Analysis: Banner Tow Accident-Hollywood, Florida, the AOPA Air Safety Institute wants to help pilots understand what is known about the accident as we look at factors that are likely to be a subject of the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board,” said AOPA’s ASI Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden.
“The pilot had recently been checked out to tow banners and, according to media reports, this was one of his first tows,” he continued. “It appears that the airplane never got above 700 to 800 feet when the pilot reported a problem to the tower saying that he had to drop the banner.”
“It looks like the pilot attempted to find a clear opening on the ground so he wouldn’t hurt people after he dropped the banner. Unfortunately, just after the banner’s release, the aircraft entered a spin. The NTSB hopefully can shed some light on why the aircraft was not performing like the pilot was expecting,” McSpadden concluded.
Early Analysis videos provide an initial assessment of prominent mishaps that generate large public interest and may indicate important safety lessons for the general aviation community, association officials noted.
View the video here.
View other Early Analysis videos here.