Cessna 172R accident near N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, June 15, 2002
On June 15, 2002 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N9857F, was substantially damaged in an accident near N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (North Myrtle Beach airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a banner tow pickup resulting in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2002 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · North Myrtle Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9857F · no longer on the register · serial R172-0005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was on his 3rd attempt to pick up a banner. The airplane was in a nose up attitude as the banner started to come off the ground. At this point the airplane started to sink. The pilot released the banner but the airplane continued to sink, and he lowered the nose. The airplane stalled and the wings were rocking back and forth. The airplane continued to sink until the left wing collided with the ground. The pilot stated he did not experienced any anomalies with the airplane before it stalled. Review of the Cessna 172R Skyhawk Information Manual indicates the airplane will stall at 44 KIAS or 51 KCAS with 0-degrees angle of bank.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 556 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 478 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,712 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 2002; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE N Myrtle Beach SC at 4:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from CRE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.