Piper PA-18-135 accident near Conway, South Carolina, May 23, 2005
On May 23, 2005 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-135, registered N9951Q, was destroyed in an accident near Conway, South Carolina (Sky Field). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after releasing a banner aerial sign, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground. A factor in the accident was the flight instructor's improper supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2005 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, South Carolina · Sky Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-135 · all PA-18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N9951Q · no longer on the register · serial 18-3570
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses observed the banner tow airplane release its banner aerial sign at an airstrip adjacent to a highway. The airplane made a steep pitch up attitude followed by a steep left turn towards the highway at an altitude lower than the treetops. The left wing was described by one witness in a near vertical position with the ground before the nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane collided with the ground. The OWNERS HANDBOOK, states in SECTION II, TAKE-OFF, CLIMB, AND STALLS,…"The gross weight power off stalling speed with full flaps in the Super Cub 135 is 38 M.P.H.; with flaps up the stalling speed increases about 4 M.P.H." Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,028 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 432 in the last 90 days; 274 in the last 30 days; 515 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 475 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 369 as pilot in command; 8 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Conway SC at 3:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MYR, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.