- Date
- August 31, 1998, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sherman, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N52TWPitts S-2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980831047039A
- Case key
- 44034
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot in command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing flare. A factor was the gusty, crosswind condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the tail wheel equipped airplane lost directional control while landing on runway 17L due to a crosswind condition. The private pilot stated that just prior to the wheels contacting the runway a gust of wind 'from 090 degrees' pushed the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane contacted the runway to the right of the runway centerline and the pilot began to use left rudder and braking to maintain directional control of the airplane. Subsequently, the tail of the airplane began to swing around to the right and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid approximately 15 feet and came to rest upright on the runway. The pilot estimates that at the time of the accident the winds were from 090 degrees at 10 to 12 knots and gusting to 15 knots.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1998, at 1800 central daylight time, a Pitts S-2B tail wheel equipped airplane, N52TW, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at the Grayson County Airport, near, Sherman, Texas. The private pilot, owner and operator of the airplane, and sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight that originated from the Grayson County Airport at 1700. A flight plan was not filed.
The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he entered the downwind leg for landing on runway 17L and noticed that the windsock indicated an "80 to 90 degree crosswind." Just prior to the wheels of the airplane contacting the runway "a gust of wind from 090 degrees" pushed the bi-plane to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane contacted the runway to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot tried to maintain directional control by "applying left rudder and brakes." Subsequently, the tail of the airplane started to swing out to the right and the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid approximately 15 feet before stopping upright on the runway.
The pilot estimated that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 090 degrees at 10 to 12 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
The pilot had accumulated a total of 122 hours in the make and model. The airplane had accumulated a total of 112 hours since new.
An FAA inspector examined the airplane after the accident and stated that the right main gear collapsed and the lower right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot added that the right wing sustained spar and rib damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52TW
- Reported as
- Pitts S-2B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5323
- Airframe hours
- 112
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Keith Leedom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 21, 1997 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- F39
- Airport
- F39 · Grayson County Airport, runway 17L, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 239 total · 122 in this make and model · 159 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.