# NTSB CEN23LA222: Pitts S-2S, N1PW, Garden Plain, KS, June 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 3, 2023, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Garden Plain, KS - Coordinates: 37.66097, -97.629211 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6610&lon=-97.6292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192302/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192302 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing roll due to a flat tire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: tube](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts S-2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md?model=7220499), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023245/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts S-2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7220499), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Pitts S-2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7220499), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Pitts S-2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7220499), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing roll on a grass runway, the airplane decelerated quicker than the pilot expected, pulled to the right, and nosed over which resulted in a ground loop. The right lower wing and right elevator were substantially damaged during the ground loop. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed that the right main landing gear wheel inner tube and tire was likely flat prior to landing due to an undetected cut in the inner tube. The flat tire resulted in wheel pant fairing to contact the grass runway and the airplane became uncontrollable. Following the accident, the inner tube was inflated by the pilot and an audible leak was observed from the cut rubber area. The pilot reported that the tube was replaced during last the condition inspection, and it was unknown what caused the cut in the inner tube. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1PW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1PW), registered now, S/N 1004, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PITTS S-2S - Registry model: [Pitts S-2S](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-s-2s) (registry code 7220499) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-d4a5) (registry code 41799, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1004 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 1759 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (Exp) 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Welkin Aero Inc, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Welkin Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 24, 2022 - Departed: GRI, Grand Island, NE - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SN61, Yoder Airpark, runway 18, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, military, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,300 total, 560 in this make and model, 8,295 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KICT, 9 nm away - METAR: SPECI KICT 032304Z 12013KT 10SM TS SCT045 SCT080TCU OVC100 26/17 A2989 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW TSB02 ONCL LTGICCG VC N-NW TCU VC VC N-NW MOV NW T02610172= ## 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 20230603006219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230603006219A), Jun 3, 2023: Pitts S-2S, Garden Plain, KS, Substantial damage. During landing on grass strip at SN61, the right tire failed on landing rollout causing the aircraft nose to pitch forward striking the ground with the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192302. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16119426&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N1PW%203Jun23%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15808937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot email summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15809868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Email-Rel.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.