Cessna 188B accident near Leesburg, Florida, July 2, 2001
On July 2, 2001 at about 1:17 pm local time, a Cessna 188B, registered N21894, was involved in an accident near Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg Regional Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout while deploying the grappling hook in preparation for a banner pick up resulting in the cable wrapping around the stabilizer, subsequent loss of control during the banner drop (due to the cable moving forward and jamming the elevators), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2001 · about 1:17 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · Leesburg Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N21894 · no longer on the register · serial 188-01105
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot deployed the grappling hook in preparation for a banner pick up. The pilot did not ensure the grappling hook cable was properly deployed by visually checking the cable. The cable wrapped around the stabilizer. The pilot returned to the airport to drop the banner. When he released the banner the cable traveled forward and jammed the elevator resulting in an in-flight loss of control, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
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
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,878 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-P25 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from LEE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.