N92085

On September 2, 1996, at 1650 eastern daylight time, a Piper J-3, N92085, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while maneuvering near a private airstrip in Wildwood, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Woodbine, New Jersey, about 1330. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he had been banner towing all day with the airplane. He further stated:

"...After completing my tow, I dropped my banner, and made a low approach to the field. As I circled to land my front tank began to overflow...I turned my head for a second to turn the fuel transfer switch off, when my left wheel hit some reeds. It pulled the plane into a hard left turn...as a result of the hard left bank, my wing (left) also hit the reeds..."

Several witnesses observed the airplane over the airstrip. One witness stated:

"...While at the strip, I observed three of their pilots making low passes over the strip, adjacent meadow, and beach. I remember making a comment about their apparent lack of good sense. All three aircraft were involved in this. On the third approach to the airstrip, they were flying in formation, one behind the other, at very low altitude. All three planes then made a turn toward the north, just about tree top level. At that time, the third plane disappeared from my view..."

Another witness stated that he observed the low passes over the airstrip continue for 10 to 15 minutes. He further stated:

"...Also very noticeable was a man in the middle of the field filming the aircraft...It now occurred to me that they were showing off for him...They now were passing in full view of the photographer and myself, doing low level steep diving turns...As I approached the photographer to remove him...the pilots now saw us. They quickly stopped the steep low level turns and set up to land...Before [one pilot] landed, he did a couple of slow observational type turns over the area I later found [N92085]..."

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated to him that he had conducted banner towing operation during the day, and at the completion of his last banner towing mission he released his banner in the designated area, and proceeded on a local pleasure flight. While maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude over a marshy area, the airplane's right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest in the marsh.