# NTSB DEN90LA138: Buchanan S1-S, N93DB, Albuquerque, NM, June 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1990, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.149688, -106.579818 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1497&lon=-106.5798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17954
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17954/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA138

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE TAILWHEEL LOCKING ASSEMBLY.

## 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)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,tailwheel lock - disconnected (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL WITH A GUSTING CROSSWIND. THE HOMEBUILT BIPLANE DRAGGED ONE WING ON THE RUNWAY, THEN NOSED OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS WERE BENT AND DAMAGED, AND BOTH WINGS WERE DAMAGED ON THE UPPER SURFACES. THE LOWER WINGS WERE FRAYED FROM FRICTION WITH THE RUNWAY. A SELF LOCKING NUT WAS MISSING FROM THE TAIL WHEEL LOCKING CABLE ATTACHMENT, ALLOWING THE TAIL WHEEL TO CASTER FREELY. THE BOLT (TO BE HELD IN PLACE WITH A LOCKING NUT) WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93DB-2005-05-13), registration cancelled 2005-05-13, S/N 8-0138, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUCHANAN S1-S
- Registry model: [Buchanan Donald W PITTS S1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/buchanan-donald-w-pitts-s1s) (registry code 72206AV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 8-0138
- Airframe hours: 372
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CK 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Keith A. Keeling
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1989, 18 hours before
- Departed: 2V1, PAGOSA SPRIMGS, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 4AC, Coronado, runway 17, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 410 total, 80 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19900617020729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900617020729A), Jun 17, 1990: Child S1SPITTS, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Crosswind gust caught aircraft at touchdown. Aircraft nosed over. Tail wheel lock lost a bolt.

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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