Piper PA-25-260 accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, August 22, 1993
On August 22, 1993 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-260, registered N4844Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth Muni 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
was the failure of the pilot to attain proper alignment for the banner pickup which resulted in picking up the banner tow rope on the wing, and an inflight loss of control and uncontrolled contact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1993 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-260 · all PA-25-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4844Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE CAME IN FOR A BANNER PICKUP. FOUR WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ALIGNED FOR THE PICKUP AND WAS ANGLING IN FROM THE RIGHT. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE PICKUP POLES, THE RIGHT WING WAS OBSERVED TO DROP MOMENTARILY, AND THEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A CLIMB WITH POWER. THREE OF THE WITNESSES SAID THE ROPE FOR THE BANNER WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT WING. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 75 TO 100 FEET, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DESCEND, ROLLED RIGHT TO THE INVERTED POSITION, AND IMPACTED INVERTED, IN A RIGHT WING LOW POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE TOW ROPE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT MOVED FAR ENOUGH OR GAINED ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO MOVE THE BANNER WHICH STILL LAY ON THE GROUND IN ITS PICKUP POSITION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 910 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 905 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1993; 134 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PYM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.