# Accident 20090813014439A: Grahnj PITTSS2S, Rifle, CO, August 13, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2009, 14:30 local time
- Place: Rifle, CO
- Airport: Garfield County Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5261° N, 107.7269° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5261&lon=-107.7269&mi=10
- Aircraft: N540S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N540S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grahn J/Grahn G PITTS S2S (registry code 72216A3, https://openairdocs.org/model/grahn-j-grahn-g-pitts-s2s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (registry code 41788, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-s1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRAHNJ PITTSS2S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,400 total, 900 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA520](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA520) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090813014439A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING AFTER PRACTIVE PERFORMANCE OF AIRSHOW (PRACTICE PART OF AIRSHOW WAIVER) THE NEXT DAY.  AIRCRAFT LANDED FAST, PILOT USED HEAVY BRAKING WHICH LED TO BRAKE FAILURE ON RIGHT SIDE.  AIRCRAFT PULLED TO LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A RUNWAY SIGN WHICH DAMAGED THE RIGHT SIDE INBOARD WING ROOT AND WING SPAR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN09CA520](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA520), Aug 13, 2009: Grahn J/Grahn G Pitts S2S (N540S), Rifle, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive landing speed and subsequent excessive brake application which resulted in a loss of control and impact with an airport sign.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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