Cessna 150L accident near Manteo, North Carolina, August 9, 1992
On August 9, 1992 at about 5:23 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11912, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manteo, North Carolina (Dare CO. Regional 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 DELAYED LEVEL OFF BY THE PILOT, DURING THE BANNER PICK-UP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENTANGLEMENT OF THE BANNER WITH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1992 · about 5:23 pm local time
- Place
- Manteo, North Carolina · Dare CO. Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11912 · registry record · serial 15075705
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING BANNER TOW OPERATIONS, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICK-UP THE BANNER. A GUST OF WIND DISTURBED THE PICK-UP FLIGHT PATH & A GO-AROUND WAS BEGUN. AS THE PILOT ENTERED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN, THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SNAGGED THE BANNER ROPE. THE BANNER, BANNER ROPE, & THE PICK-UP POLES BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE FUSELAGE. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE, IT WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY, THEREFORE HE LANDED IN THE GRASS BESIDE THE RUNWAY. ONE OF THE PICK-UP POLES STUCK IN THE GROUND, WHICH JERKED THE ENTANGLED ROPE, & DISTORTED FUSELAGE LONGERONS FORWARD OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kitty Hawk Aero Tours
The flight
- Departed from: MQI at 5:10 pm
- Destination: MQI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,849 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from MQI, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N11912 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.