Aviat INC A 1 accident near Compton, California, August 9, 2015
On August 9, 2015 at about 7:33 pm local time, a 1995 Aviat INC A 1, registered N6090U, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Compton, California (Compton/Woodley 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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed and/or appropriate pitch attitude during a banner pickup, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall/spin at too low an altitude to allow recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2015 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton/Woodley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat INC A 1 UNDESIGNAT, built 1995 · all A 1s on the register
- Registration
- N6090U · no longer on the register · serial 1300
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a local banner tow flight. After five unsuccessful attempts to pick up the banner, the pilot was successful on the sixth attempt. According to ground personnel, the banner deployed normally, and the airplane's engine sounded normal. However, the pilot radioed to the ground personnel that the airplane was unable to climb. About that time, the ground personnel observed the banner releasing from the airplane's tail hook and falling to the ground. The airplane then wallowed left and right until it spun to the left as it descended and subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane burst into flames and was consumed by the postimpact fire. Postaccident examination noted no preimpact anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had a history of difficulties executing banner pickups that included multiple low misses, adding power late, and pitching up too high. Although the pilot had been retrained the year before the accident, it is likely that he added power late, pitched up too high, or made both errors when picking up the banner, which resulted in the airplane's airspeed decaying to the point where the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack and experienced an aerodynamic stall.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,501 hours in all; 976 in this make and model; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,878.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 2015
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 1,879 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aviad Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 7:35 pm
- Destination: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,322 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KHHR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.