Piper PA-18A 150 accident near Hollywood, Florida, March 19, 2011
On March 19, 2011 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A 150, registered N9692D, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A 150 · all PA-18A 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9692D · registry record · serial 18-6800
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a banner tow flight with an adequate supply of fuel, and flew for about 1.5 hours before returning to the departure airport. He dropped the first banner, descended, then climbed to pick up the second banner. As he applied power, the engine initially responded, but then it lost power about 50 to 100 feet above ground level with no sputtering noted. The pilot applied forward elevator control input and verified that the mixture was full rich and that the fuel selector was on the left tank. Prior to touchdown, he applied aft elevator control input, but there was no response, and the airplane landed hard. Operator personnel reported that both magneto switches were in the on position, the fuel selector was in the left tank position, the carburetor heat was pulled slightly, the throttle was full forward, and the mixture control was slightly leaned. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the inboard and outboard fuel tanks contained fuel; however, the amount in each tank was not quantified. However, the amount was adequate to sustain engine power. No fuel was found in the fuel strainer; however, fuel was in the carburetor bowl. A replacement propeller was installed, and the engine was test run and it operated satisfactorily. The conditions about the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor icing at glide power. The reason for the lack of fuel in the fuel strainer and the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,040 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command; 5 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 7, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,678 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 5:55 pm
- Destination: HWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from HWO
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.