NTSB Factual Report

On February 15, 2001, about 1515 eastern standard time, a Piper J5A, N35288, registered to and operated by Aerial Sign Company Inc, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 banner towing flight, landed hard after the engine ceased operating while dropping off a banner at North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from North Perry Airport, the same day, about 1200.

The pilot stated that the ground crew had inadvertently added an additional 40 letters which required that a higher cruise power setting be used during the flight. The pilot further stated that in addition to towing the banner, the company dispatch had communicated to him that they had been unable to reach another company aircraft in the area, and asked that he attempt to overtake that aircraft and visually communicate with the pilot. The pilot said that it took an additional 20 minutes of flying at a higher power setting to overtake the company aircraft. After overtaking the other aircraft, the pilot said that he returned to the airport to drop the banner, and when he added power during the banner drop, the aircraft engine ceased operating. The aircraft impacted the sod in the northwest corner of the airport, and incurred substantial damage. According to the operator, postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the fuel in the aircraft fuel tank had been depleted.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision and inadequate fuel consumption calculations that resulted in fuel exhaustion and substantial damage to the aircraft as a result of a hard landing during the emergency descent/landing.