# NTSB CHI06LA085: Wheeler Pitts Special, N55MW, Fulton, MO, February 22, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 2006, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Fulton, MO - Coordinates: 38.850151, -91.949493 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8502&lon=-91.9495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63357/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA085 ## Probable cause The altitude/clearance not obtained/maintained during landing by the pilot. Contributing factors were the trees, the embankment, the runway length, and the reduced visual lookout during the approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - airport/facilities - other (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - reduced (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The experimental amatuer-built airplane impacted terrain during a visual approach to landing on an 1,800 foot long turf runway at a private airstrip. The pilot stated that due to trees at the approach end of the runway, a steeper than normal glide path is required. He said that during the approach, he could not slip the airplane to gain forward visibility because it was too slow and steep. The airplane impacted an embankment at the approach end of the runway during landing and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 2006, at 1600 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Wheeler Pitts Special, N55MW, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, impacted terrain during landing at Sky-Go Farms Airport (73MU), Fulton, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The local flight originated from Elton Hensley Memorial Airport (FTT), Fulton, Missouri, at 1545. The pilot was attempting a visual approach to land on runway 27 at 73MU. The pilot stated that trees at the approach end of runway 27 require a steeper than normal glide path. During the approach, the airplane was too slow and steep to slip the airplane to gain forward visibility. On short final, the pilot noticed an increased sink rate, "possibly [from convection] current or downdraft from slope of runway and surrounding terrain". The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane impacted an embankment, slid for about 100 feet, nosed over, and came to a stop inverted. The pilot stated that his exit from the airplane was aided by a cracked canopy from the rollover. He manually broke a hole through the canopy and exited the airplane. Sky-Go Farms Airport (73MU) is a private airstrip served by runways 9-27 (1,800 feet by 60 feet, turf) and runways 18-36 (1,800 feet by 60 feet, turf). The pilot stated that the runway 27 approach end possessed a 45-degree embankment that was one foot below the runway surface. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by: not attempting a short field landing, adding more power on final and landing a bit longer, and adding full power and executing a go-around. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55MW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55MW-2009-09-25), registration cancelled 2009-09-25, S/N MW-1, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WHEELER Pitts Special - Registry model: [Wheeler PITTS SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/wheeler-pitts-special) (registry code 7220760) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MW-1 - Airframe hours: 1063 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2005, 13 hours before - Departed: FTT, Fulton, MO - Destination: 73MU - Airport: 73MU, Sky-Go Farms Airport, runway 27, 1,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: center; flight hours: 1,155 total, 154 in this make and model, 1,009 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: COU, 12 nm away ## 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 20060222002209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060222002209A), Feb 22, 2006: Amtr PITTSSPECIAL, Fulton, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed elton hensley memorial airport, Fulton, Missouri, (ftt) enroute to sky-gofarms airport (73MU) located approximately 4 miles north of… 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.