PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 65; Flight Crew Type 63
Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors
I was intending to land at HII and was approaching the airport from the east. I began making radio calls over CTAF when I was 12 miles from the airport and continued making radio calls detailing my position; altitude; and intent every two miles thereafter. I began to hear one other pilot making calls (three calls prior to the near miss) but his transmissions were very difficult to understand due to background noise. When I was four miles from the airport I asked the other pilot to repeat his last transmission but received no reply. I made another radio call two miles from the airport and stated I would be crossing the airport midfield; performing a left hand circle to enter the downwind at a 45. Seconds after that call I shifted forward in my seat and immediately saw a moving object that had previously been hidden by my window frame. After a few seconds of trying to discern what it was; I determined it was a banner under tow; and soon saw the aircraft towing it. The other aircraft was at my same altitude and crossing over the airport immediately above Runway 32 (runway in use was 14) at pattern altitude (1;800 MSL). I immediately began a descent and made a radio call to the other pilot. The other pilot indicated he now had me in sight and would be 'flying around 14 to drop his banner.' I descended to 1;200 MSL and flew directly below the other aircraft and its banner. I landed a few minutes later without incident. Another pilot on the ground who witnessed the near miss and heard the radio calls approached me as I tied down my aircraft. He indicated that; in his experience; the banner tow pilots do not take much care in avoiding other aircraft and would often try to 'muscle other people around in the airspace.' He also noted the banner tow pilots often flew with their doors open; which would account for the difficulty in understanding their transmissions.
Despite having provided regular CTAF position reports as she approached the airport of intended landing; the student pilot flying a PA-28 suffered an NMAC with a tow plane and the banner it was towing.