Piper PA-12 accident near Merritt Island, Florida, April 7, 1994
On April 7, 1994 at about 2:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2834M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL DUE TO JAMMING BY THE TOW ROPE WHICH PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1994 · about 2:56 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2834M · registry record · serial 12-1271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING IN A DIVE TO PICK UP A BANNER THE TOW ROPE GRAPPLING HOOK DUG IN THE GROUND, BOUNCE UP, AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN BETWEEN THE STABILIZER AND THE LEFT ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO NOSE UP, YAW LEFT AND PITCH NOSE DOWN CRASHING INTO A MANGROVE SWAMP ON THE AIRPORT. THE TOW ROPE RING WAS FOUND JAMMED IN BETWEEN THE STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 633 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Banner Dragon INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from MLB, 20 miles away
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.