Cessna 172N accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, April 28, 2013
On April 28, 2013 at about 7:58 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737FK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront Airport). It was a banner-towing 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 perform a steep climb before going around following a low pass for a banner tow pickup.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2013 · about 7:58 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737FK · no longer on the register · serial 17269383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on his first low-pass attempt, he had missed picking up an advertising banner with the airplane’s grapple hook assembly. On the second pass, he thought he had again missed the aerial pickup towline, so he made a shallow climb. A steep climb is required when a banner is picked up to quickly lift the banner off the ground. The pilot was unaware that during the airplane’s second pass, the nose gear had inadvertently snagged the forward end of the 300-foot-long towline. The banner could not be jettisoned, and it was dragged on the ground during the shallow climb, creating additional drag on the airplane. The pilot reported an abrupt downward pull on the nose of the airplane, which caused him to lose control. The airplane impacted terrain about 1,000 feet south of the pickup location. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage, the engine mount, and the forward firewall. The pilot also reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 797 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 669 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 29, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,733 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 11, 2013; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Reldan INC
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18L, 3,697 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KNEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.