# NTSB CHI99LA151: Engleman Pitts S1, N64DE, Mattoon, IL, May 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1999, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Mattoon, IL - Coordinates: 39.469539, -88.359191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4695&lon=-88.3592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and inadvertent ground loop/swerve. A related factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload ## Analysis The pilot made a 3-point landing and the initial portion of the landing roll was normal. He reported the airplane then began to '...veer sharply to the right.' He was unable to correct the directional control of the airplane. The left main gear collapsed and the left lower wingtip along with the propeller contacted the runway prior to the airplane coming to rest on a heading of about 180 degrees. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction of the airplane's brake system. A fuel line was located near the left brake which may have interfered with the pilot pressing on the brake pedal. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1999, at 1245 central daylight time (cdt), an Engleman Pitts S1, N64DE, operated by a commercial pilot ground looped while landing at the Coles County Memorial Airport, Mattoon, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Mattoon, Illinois, at 1157 cdt. The pilot reported that prior to the accident he made three landings on Runway 17 which was a grass airstrip. He then flew in the local area for approximately 20 minutes and came back to land on Runway 11 (6,501' x 150'). The pilot reported the local winds were from 170 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot reported he made a 3-point landing and the initial portion of the landing roll was normal. He reported the airplane then began to "...veer sharply to the right." The pilot reported he was unable to correct the directional control and the airplane continued to the right. The left main gear collapsed and the left lower wingtip along with the propeller contacted the runway prior to the airplane coming to rest on a heading of about 180 degrees. An inspector from the Springfield, Illinois, Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office examined the airplane after the accident. The inspector reported that he was unable to find any failure/malfunction of the airplane's brake system. He did state that there was a fuel line which ran near the left brake pedal and it was possible that line interfered with the pilot pressing on the brake. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64DE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64DE), registered now, S/N DE001, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Engleman PITTS S1 - Registry model: [Engleman PITTS S1-125HP](https://openairdocs.org/model/engleman-pitts-s1-125hp) (registry code 722024G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-series) (registry code 42083, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DE001 - Airframe hours: 406 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jimmy T. Stewart - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1998, 6 hours before - Departed: MTO - Airport: MTO, Coles County Memorial, runway 11, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 756 total, 11 in this make and model, 668 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19990515021909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990515021909A), May 15, 1999: Child S1PITTS, Mattoon Charles, IL, Substantial damage. On may 15, 1999, at 1245 central daylight time (CDT), an engleman pitts S1, N64DE, operated by a commercial pilot ground looped while landing at the Coles… 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.