Banner towing aircraft had engine problem. Dropped banner, made emergency landing on highway.

Attributes
ACN	124181
Time
Date	198909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : buf tower : dwh
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 880 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	124181
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed genesee county airport for a banner-towing flight to the buffalo area. I picked up my banner on the first attempt. I was following interstate 90 wbound when the engine began to bang and shake. I checked beneath me and dropped my banner in a field. I then prepared for an emergency landing. Initially I headed for a field. I was uncertain that the field surface was firm enough for a safe landing. I checked the highway (interstate 90) for automobile traffic. There was a large gap in the traffic (approximately 1/2 mi). I headed for that gap and landed without incident. I called buffalo approach to report that there was no injury or property damage. Soon after that, the state police, and FAA (inspector) arrived to take my statement and check my papers. The engine failure was not due to my operation of the aircraft. After the engine failure I proceeded with extreme caution and as a result I was able to avoid what could have been an injurious or fatal conclusion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BANNER TOWING ACFT HAD ENGINE PROBLEM. DROPPED BANNER, MADE EMERGENCY LNDG ON HIGHWAY.

Narrative: I DEPARTED GENESEE COUNTY ARPT FOR A BANNER-TOWING FLT TO THE BUFFALO AREA. I PICKED UP MY BANNER ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. I WAS FOLLOWING INTERSTATE 90 WBOUND WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO BANG AND SHAKE. I CHECKED BENEATH ME AND DROPPED MY BANNER IN A FIELD. I THEN PREPARED FOR AN EMER LNDG. INITIALLY I HEADED FOR A FIELD. I WAS UNCERTAIN THAT THE FIELD SURFACE WAS FIRM ENOUGH FOR A SAFE LNDG. I CHECKED THE HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 90) FOR AUTOMOBILE TFC. THERE WAS A LARGE GAP IN THE TFC (APPROX 1/2 MI). I HEADED FOR THAT GAP AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I CALLED BUFFALO APCH TO REPORT THAT THERE WAS NO INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. SOON AFTER THAT, THE STATE POLICE, AND FAA (INSPECTOR) ARRIVED TO TAKE MY STATEMENT AND CHECK MY PAPERS. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO MY OPERATION OF THE ACFT. AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE I PROCEEDED WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND AS A RESULT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN INJURIOUS OR FATAL CONCLUSION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.