PA25 and C305 had near midair collision while banner towing over a sports stadium.

Attributes
ACN	421069
Time
Date	199811
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1100 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-25 Pawnee
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Bird Dog 305/321
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 : 280 flight time total : 1375 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	421069
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 200

Narrative:

During aerial banner tow operations during the date and times specified above, and in the vicinity of memorial stadium, austin, tx, I believe that my aircraft came within approximately 600 ft of another banner tow aircraft as he passed inside of my aircraft on the left side, at a slightly lower altitude. I believe this report is pertinent as the certificate of waiver that my company operates under prohibits operations closer than 500 ft to other aircraft. The situation arose due to airspeed limitations of the sign which I was towing being approximately 5-10 KTS slower than those of the other aircraft. Because of this, I elected to fly higher and larger l-hand pattern around the stadium. As soon as I realized that he intended to pass me on the left, I turned more to the right and initiated a climb. I do not believe that safety was an issue and I am convinced that adequate separation existed between my aircraft and all other aircraft involved. Shortly after the above occurred, the tower controller advised us that the 'FAA wanted to know who was doing the banner towing.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA25 AND C305 HAD NMAC WHILE BANNER TOWING OVER A SPORTS STADIUM.

Narrative: DURING AERIAL BANNER TOW OPS DURING THE DATE AND TIMES SPECIFIED ABOVE, AND IN THE VICINITY OF MEMORIAL STADIUM, AUSTIN, TX, I BELIEVE THAT MY ACFT CAME WITHIN APPROX 600 FT OF ANOTHER BANNER TOW ACFT AS HE PASSED INSIDE OF MY ACFT ON THE L SIDE, AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER ALT. I BELIEVE THIS RPT IS PERTINENT AS THE CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER THAT MY COMPANY OPERATES UNDER PROHIBITS OPS CLOSER THAN 500 FT TO OTHER ACFT. THE SIT AROSE DUE TO AIRSPD LIMITATIONS OF THE SIGN WHICH I WAS TOWING BEING APPROX 5-10 KTS SLOWER THAN THOSE OF THE OTHER ACFT. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ELECTED TO FLY HIGHER AND LARGER L-HAND PATTERN AROUND THE STADIUM. AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT HE INTENDED TO PASS ME ON THE L, I TURNED MORE TO THE R AND INITIATED A CLB. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SAFETY WAS AN ISSUE AND I AM CONVINCED THAT ADEQUATE SEPARATION EXISTED BTWN MY ACFT AND ALL OTHER ACFT INVOLVED. SHORTLY AFTER THE ABOVE OCCURRED, THE TWR CTLR ADVISED US THAT THE 'FAA WANTED TO KNOW WHO WAS DOING THE BANNER TOWING.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.