# NTSB ERA26LA276: Christen Industries Pitts S-2, N7RN, Porter Center, NY, July 17, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 17, 2026, 18:11 local (22:11 UTC) - Place: Porter Center, NY - Coordinates: 43.260516, -78.965568 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2605&lon=-78.9656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203430 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203430/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203430 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA276 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while giving rides, the airplane touched down and the right main landing gear contacted taller grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane ground looped to the right and exited the right side of the runway. During the ground loop, the left wing and elevator struck the ground. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the upper and lower left wing, left elevator, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7RN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7RN), registered now, S/N 5098 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC PITTS S-2 (B) - Registry model: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5098 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 406.3 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Afs Aero LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 63NY, Windshear, runway 18/36, 3,153 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,700 total, 2,700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: IAG, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KIAG 172153Z 24009KT 8SM CLR 27/10 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP162 T02720100 $ ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203430. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20848275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� attempted contacts (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20850287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Contat%20attempts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20707415&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.