# NTSB ATL02LA085: Pitts S1C, N91GD, Gainesville, FL, April 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2002, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Gainesville, FL - Coordinates: 29.69, -82.271942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6900&lon=-82.2719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Oralando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54527/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54527 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during an attempted go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the approach to landing, the pilot felt there was an excessive left quartering tailwind and appeared to be running out of runway. The pilot then advanced the power for an attempted go-around. The airplane made a slight turn to the left, then made a right turn into the ground. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2002, at 1910 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S1C, N91GD collided with terrain and nosed over during landing at Gainesville Regional Airport in Gainesville, Florida. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot, who was practicing touch-and-go landings to Runway 10. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot received minor injuries. The local flight originated from Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville, Florida, at 1900. After a sequence of touch-and-go landings, the pilot made a slight turn to the left on approach to Runway 10. The airplane then made a right turn into the ground. The airplane came to rest in a nose low attitude. According to the pilot, on the day of the accident, he took off and flew to an upper airworks area northwest of the Gainesville Regional Airport. The pilot further intended to return to the airport to practice landings. The pilot did a touch-and-go on runway 06, and was then asked to convert to runway 10. After a second touch and go on runway 10, the pilot was instructed to make a right downwind to runway 10. During the approach to landing, the pilot felt there was an excessive left quartering tailwind and appeared to be running out of runway. The pilot then advanced the power for an attempted go-around. The pilot stated that he did not feel he was getting full power, and was running out of runway remaining. The pilot has no recollection of the flight. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported at 7-10 knots, variable direction without gusts. The pilot stated that he should have refused landing clearance on runway 10, as he felt the tailwind was excessive and he felt overwhelmed by the situation. In addition, the pilot was unsure if there were mechanical malfunctions within the engine that may have produced a hesitation on go-around, and the pilot also stated that the tail wheel might have unlocked. The airplane impacted the ground on the nose and right wing. The airplane bounced and rotated 180 degrees on the vertical axis, landing on the tail and tail wheel. The airplane bounced again, rotating another 180 degrees on the vertical axis, landing on the nose and right wing, and stopped on the nose and left wing. Inspection of the airplane revealed the upper right wing tip broken at the I-beam, the lower right wing skin wrinkled, showing internal damage, the tail wheel bent, the left elevator bent, and the engine bent up at a 30-degree angle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91GD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91GD-2002-05-20), registration cancelled 2002-05-20, S/N 1, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts S1C - Registry model: [Davis Glenn E JR PITTS SIC](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-glenn-e-jr-pitts-sic) (registry code 722111Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Airframe hours: 408 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 23, 2002, 19 hours before - Departed: KGNV, Gainesville, FL - Destination: Gainsville - Airport: GNV, Gainsville International, runway 10, 3,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,628 total, 2 in this make and model, 2,480 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: GNV ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020415020199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020415020199A), Apr 15, 2002: Amtr S1C, Gainesville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on runway 10 in Gainesville, FL the pilot lost control of the aircraft and added power for a go around. The aircraft climb to about 50… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54527. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - ATCT Statement (item 3, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ATCT%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook Records (item 4, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Records-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.