NTSB NYC90LA155 — 1990-07-07 · NEWBURYPORT, Massachusetts, United States

Current FAA registration · N5208G

Make / Model: CESSNA 305A
Year of manufacture: 1951 · 39 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19720516
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A68C65

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5208G Cessna 305A None

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES FOR LANDING WITH A BANNER STILL ATTACHED, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF BANNER RELEASE MECHANISM.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT FLYING A CESSNA 305A WAS ENGAGED IN BANNER TOWING. THE PILOT COULD NOT RELEASE THE BANNER AND MADE A LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE FAA SAID THE OWNER HAD MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE HOOK RELEASE MECHANISM AND THE PILOT FAILED TO LAND ON A HARD SURFACE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL FLIGHT MANUAL FOR BANNER TOWING, WHEN LANDING WITH A BANNER STILL ATTACHED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_NYC90LA155.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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