Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a banner towing operation, which resulted in the airplane stalling and landing hard.
NTSB analysis
During a banner towing demonstration flight for a flight examiner, the airplane stalled. The pilot applied full-forward elevator controls; however, he was unable to recover the airplane, and it subsequently landed hard. The pilot reported that he did not hear the stall warning horn sound. No anomalies were detected in the stall warning system after the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13LA249 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 1, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Covington, Louisiana
- Nearest airport
- St. Tammany Regional Airport (L31)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172M
- N-number
- N8899V
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Banner tow
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.