Culver LFA accident near Sonoma, California, September 11, 1993
On September 11, 1993 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Culver LFA, registered N41729, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonoma, California (Sonoma Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the airport management's failure to provide notice of the banner operation and to close the runway. An additional cause was the banner operator's failure to ensure that the runway on which he placed his banner equipment was closed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1993 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Sonoma, California · Sonoma Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Culver LFA · all LFAs on the register
- Registration
- N41729 · registry record · serial 450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot commenced taking off from runway 34 and was unaware that a tow plane's banner had been suspended across the runway. Seconds before impact, the pilot observed the obstruction and attempted to avoid it by abruptly pulling up. The airplane's landing gear snagged the pickup wire and the airplane crashed into an adjacent open field. Airport management gave the banner company personnel permission to locate the banner on the runway and failed to close the runway. The banner company personnel failed to abide by its FAA waiver for banner operations which limited banner placement to at least '500 feet from any active runway, person ... and aircraft.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,039 hours in all; 586 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1993; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,305 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: O28 Willits CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.