Piper PA12 accident near Middle Township, New Jersey, July 16, 2022
On July 16, 2022 at about 1:35 pm local time, a 1947 Piper PA12, registered N3703M, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Middle Township, New Jersey (Paramount Air Airport). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a missed banner pickup, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2022 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Middle Township, New Jersey · Paramount Air Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA12 NO SERIES, built 1947 · all PA12s on the register
- Registration
- N3703M · no longer on the register · serial 12-2648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The banner tow pilot had worked for the operator for about 2 months, and the accident flight was the first flight of the day. The pilot departed from the runway and flew a left traffic pattern to pick up the banner at the approach end of the opposite runway, which was normal procedure. Witnesses stated that the airplane descended between the poles, missed the banner, and the pilot initiated an aggressive, almost vertical climb. One witness stated that it appeared as though the accident pilot "kicked rudder" at the top of the climb to see if he had picked up the banner. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall/spin and descended to ground contact. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the banner pickup attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.
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 control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 707 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 259 in the last 90 days; 138 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 2022; 87 hours since
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A2B (piston); 4,661 hours total
- Operator: Paramount Air Service Inc
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 am from WWD, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KWWD 161330Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN 016 26/22 A3013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on November 15, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Police Supplementary Investigation Report (Witness Interviews) | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 17 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Logbooks | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Wreckage Examination | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.