# Accident 20121124028069A: Christen Industries Inc PITTS S-2S, Grain Valley, MO, November 24, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 2012, 13:00 local time
- Place: Grain Valley, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0144° N, 94.2147° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0144&lon=-94.2147&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15PU, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15PU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Christen Industries PITTS S-2S (registry code 2210005, https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (registry code 41799, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-d4a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC PITTS S-2S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,330 total, 13 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121124028069A

## Narrative

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

AFTER 30 MIN OF FLYING IN THE PRACTICE AREA, THE PIC RETURNED FOR LANDING.  AT TOUCHDOWN ON RWY 9 WITH A RIGHT X/WIND, HE APPLIED AFT STICK TO "PIN" THE TAIL WHEEL; HOWEVER, HE STATED IT'S PROBABLE THAT THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED 1ST, AND ACFT THEN PITCHED UP (BALLOONED).  DUE TO THE X/WIND, THE ACFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT, AND HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO GO AROUND.  HIS CONCERN WAS THE SLIGHTLY-RISING TERRAIN (BERM THAT PARALLELS RWY), AND TRIED TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM IT BACK TOWARD RWY.A MAIN WHEEL CONTACTED THE TOP OF THE BERM, DESCENDING DOWN THE BERM, AT WHICH POINT THE LEFT LOWER WING CONTACTED THE GROUND.  THE ACFT THEN PITCHED FORWARD WHICH CAUSED THE PROP TO STRIKE THE GROUND.  IT SLID ONTO THE RWY EDGE, SEVERELY DISTORTING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, THEN CAME TO REST ON THE RWY FACING SOUTHEAST.

## 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 CEN13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA077), Nov 24, 2012: Christen Industries Pitts S-2S (N15PU), Grain Valley, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, which led to a bounced landing and subsequent loss of control.

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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