# NTSB CHI95LA251: Aviat Pitts S2B, N1585P, Junction City, KS, July 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1995, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Junction City, KS
- Coordinates: 39.019325, -96.840591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0193&lon=-96.8406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9970
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA251
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9970/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA251

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to abort the landing despite excessive speed and insufficient runway length remaining. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model aircraft, and the crosswind.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway overrun area - ditch

## Analysis

WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED FOR LANDING WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND FLOATED DOWN THE RUNWAY UNTIL INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO STOP. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT CONTINUED PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THROUGH A FIELD AND CAME TO REST IN A DRAINAGE DITCH APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CROSSWIND MADE THE LANDING DIFFICULT. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLYING TIME OF 13 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1995, at 1335 central daylight time (cdt), a Aviat, Inc. Pitts S2B, N1585P, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a landing overrun on runway 05 (turf, 1927 feet long) at Junction City, Kansas.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot reported no injuries and the sole passenger received minor injuries.  The flight departed from Goodland, Kansas, at 1200 cdt.

Witnesses reported that the airplane approached too fast for landing and "bounced a couple of times" until insufficient runway remained to stop.  The aircraft continued past the end of the runway, through a field and came to rest in a drainage ditch approximately 200 feet from the end of the runway.

The pilot was flying the aircraft from the rear seat and reported that he flew the final approach "too fast for (the) runway length."  The pilot also told investigators that the crosswind made the landing difficult and that high ambient temperatures may have impaired his (physiological) performance.  He also reported that he had completed a biennial flight review in the Aviat S2B on July 2, 1995, and had a total flying time of 13 hours in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1585P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aviat PITTS S2B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5322
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-D4AS 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Shane A. Chalke
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1995, 10 hours before
- Departed: GLD, GOODLAND, KS
- Destination: 3JC, KS
- Airport: 3JC, Freeman Field, runway 5, 1,927 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,030 total, 13 in this make and model, 414 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MHK, 11 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 19950729020109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950729020109A), Jul 29, 1995: Child S2BPITTS, Junction City, KS, Substantial damage. Overran runway after high fast approach.

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.

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