# NTSB FTW97LA273: Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, N5351N, Englewood, CO, July 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1997, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.640903, -104.990722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6409&lon=-104.9907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20285/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA273 ## Probable cause Inaccurate compensation for wind conditions and improper recovery from a bounced landing by the CFI pilot in command. A factor was a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - approach light/navaid - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inaccurate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis During a touch and go landing at an intermediate airport, the flight instructor said he encountered a strong crosswind and performed a bounced landing. During the ensuing takeoff, the aircraft struck the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) control box located beside the runway. The instructor flew the aircraft back to the departure airport and during landing the left main landing gear collapsed. Subsequent inspection revealed damage to the landing gear, left lower wing, and the bottom of the fuselage. Recorded wind at the time of the encounter with the PAPI constituted a left quartering tailwind at 3.5 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1997, at 0715 mountain daylight time, a Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, N5351N, collided with the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) at Front Range Airport, Aurora, Colorado, while conducting touch and go landings. The flight instructor and private pilot student were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 0600 and following the collision landed at Centennial Airport at 0730. According to the flight instructor, after recovering from a bounced landing, he encountered a strong crosswind and the aircraft struck an airport light. Following this encounter, he said he flew the aircraft back to his point of departure (Centennial Airport). On landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the aircraft by the NTSB Investigator In Charge, revealed damage to the left main landing gear, lower portion of the left lower wing, and damage to the lower surface of the fuselage. According to the manager of Front Range Airport, the PAPI is located on the west side of runway 35 approximately 1,000 feet down the runway from the approach end. He said the control box was totally destroyed. Recorded wind at the time of the encounter was from 240 degrees magnetic at 8 knots. When landing on runway 35 a quartering tailwind from the west at 3.5 knots was present. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5351N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5351N), registered now, S/N 5064 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christen Industries PITTS S-2B - Registry model: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210006) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5064 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Terrance P. Sonday - Registered owner: High 'G' Enterprises LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 1997, 115 hours before - Departed: APA, CO - Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 20,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DIA, 330 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 19970718047509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970718047509A), Jul 18, 1997: Aviat PITTSS2B, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. (-16)[privacy data omitted] 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.