Piper PA-18-135 N3257B accident near Hollywood, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point on landing and improper use of brakes. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the throttle cable attachment tab due to preexisting cracks.

NTSB analysis

The pilot stated he was conducting a banner tow flight. He returned to the airport and dropped the banner, applied power to go around, and the throttle stuck at 2,500 rpm. He informed the control tower he was unable to reduce power and entered a right downwind for runway 9 right. The pilot reached under the instrument panel and pulled on the throttle cable. The throttle returned to the idle position while the airplane was abeam the landing threshold. The pilot turned the airplane on base leg, and realized the airplane was high and fast. He started slipping the airplane to lose altitude and the airplane touched down on the last one-third of the runway. The pilot observed the end of the runway, applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed the throttle cable tab was separated from the airframe. Examination of the tab revealed the tab fractured due to two preexisting cracks that extended across at least 75 percent of the tab cross-sectional area.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08LA130 for the full record.