Cessna 172M accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, July 26, 2013
On July 26, 2013 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 172M, registered N61929, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Farmingdale, New Jersey (Monmouth Executive Airport). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s loss of lift shortly after picking up a banner for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2013 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New Jersey · Monmouth Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1975 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N61929 · no longer on the register · serial 17264892
- 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, while towing a banner through 300 feet above ground level (agl) with the engine at full power, the airplane experienced a sudden and abrupt loss of altitude shortly after picking up a banner. The pilot turned the airplane left to try to gain additional climb performance, but the airplane continued to descend. At 200 feet agl, the airplane was still descending, so the pilot pushed all three tow releases to release the banner. However, the banner did not release, so he continued turning the airplane left to find a suitable area to perform an emergency landing. The pilot performed a forced landing on a gravel path between two tree lines, and the left wing subsequently impacted trees. The banner released shortly before impact, and the tail banner towline and tow hook were located along the wreckage path leading to the main wreckage. The pilot did not notice a loss of engine rpm during the flight. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies 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
- Loss of lift during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 249 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,217 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 20, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 5,683 hours total
- Operator: High Exposure INC
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Farmingdale NJ at 6:15 pm
- Destination: OBI Woodbine NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 7,371 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from BLM
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.