Aero Commander CallAir N7700V accident near Salt Lake City, Utah

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin to the ground.

NTSB analysis

Company personnel reported that the pilot had been towing banners for 3 months and had just recently switched to the accident airplane, which had better performance during the summer months. The pilot had accumulated approximately 10 hours in the accident airplane. The ground crewman reported that the 280-foot banner was aligned on the ground for the pilot to pick up while flying directly into the wind. The ground crewman said the pilot missed his first two pickup attempts, but was successful on the third attempt, and the pickup appeared normal. As the airplane climbed to about 200 feet and started a left crosswind turn, the crewman radioed to the pilot that he appeared slow. A moment later, the pilot released the banner, but the airplane’s nose and left wing dropped. The airplane descended and impacted the ground in a nearly vertical attitude. Postimpact fire consumed the airplane. Post accident inspection of the engine and airframe found no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10FA315 for the full record.