NTSB Factual Report

On July 20, 2004 at 1430 central daylight time a Piper PA-25, N7222Z, registered to and operated by Seair Aerial Advertising LLC, collided with the ground in an open field near Foley Alabama. The banner tow flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed a private airstrip in Collier, Alabama at 1400 on July 20, 2004.

According to the pilot, he was attempting to pick up a banner in preparation for a banner towing flight. The pilot stated he made three attempts to connect the airplane to the banner. On the first attempt the hook bounced over the cable. On the second attempt the cable wrapped around the tail wheel. The pilot landed the airplane and untangled the cable from the tail wheel. The pilot did a visual inspection of the tail wheel rudder and springs, and he stated he did not see any anomalies during his inspection.

The pilot took off for a third attempt to pick up the banner to the airplane. After liftoff the pilot made a shallow right turn. The pilot stated that the airplane was flying approximately 75 miles per hour at 400 feet above ground level. According to a witness, during the approach to pickup the banner, the airplane was in a steep left turn. After connecting with the banner the pilot did not level the wings and the airplane was seen descending to the ground. However the pilot stated that he tried to level the wings but his efforts were unsuccessful, and the airplane continued in a left decent into the ground.

Initial examination of the accident site revealed the downed airplane came to rest in a nose low attitude approximately 12 statute miles from the private airstrip in Collier, Alabama. The wreckage distribution of the airplane covered an approximate area of 80 feet long and 50 feet wide along a magnetic path of 160 degrees. Examination of the wreckage revealed the leading edge of the left wing was damaged, and the left wing was displaced aft from its normally installed position. Additionally the left wing had spar damage. The tail wheel was separated and the firewall was buckled. During the post-crash examination of the airplane; the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies and accessories revealed no anomalies. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane during flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during climbout which resulted in a stall while maneuvering to pick up a banner.