# NTSB GAA16CA500: Aerotek Pitts Special, N91JW, Reno, NV, September 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2016, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA500 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94059/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94059 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA500 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0110301), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0110301), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0110301), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0110301), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0110301), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the landing roll, the tailwheel became "stuck" in an expansion joint that runs down the centerline of the runway. She reported that when the tailwheel became unstuck, the biplane "swung wildly to the left," the bottom right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway after turning 180° to the left. A video of the accident, taken by a camera mounted on the accident biplane and posted on social media, revealed that the biplane touched down on the runway to the left of the centerline. During the landing roll and after crossing the taxiway A2 intersection, the biplane began drifting right. The tailwheel is seen crossing the centerline expansion joint about 30° to the joint and then rolling over the joint without hesitation. The tail is then seen swinging to the right at an increasing rate. The biplane ground looped to the left, and the bottom right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the landing roll the tailwheel became "stuck" in an expansion joint that runs down the centerline of the runway. She reported that when the tailwheel came unstuck, the biplane "swung wildly to the left", the bottom right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway after turning 180° to the left. A video of the accident, taken by a camera mounted on the accident biplane and posted on social media revealed that the biplane touched down on the runway to the left of the centerline. During the landing roll, after crossing the taxiway A2 intersection, the biplane began drifting to the right. The tailwheel is seen crossing the centerline expansion joint about 30° to the joint, and rolls over the joint without hesitation. The tail is then seen swinging to the right at an increasing rate. The biplane ground looped to the left and the bottom right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91JW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91JW), registered now, S/N 1-0023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROTEK PITTS SPECIAL (S-1S) - Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 0110301) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1-0023 - Airframe hours: 1226 - Engines: Aero Sport Power AEIO-360-B4A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2015 - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead, runway 08, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2015; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,200 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KRTS ## 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 20160917025059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160917025059A), Sep 17, 2016: Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, Stead, NV, Substantial damage. During the national championship air races N91JW had completed the race event an during the landing rollout airmen made inproper inputs causing the aircraft to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94059. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Video of Ground Loop (item 2, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%20of%20Ground%20Loop-Master.PDF - Video Analysis (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%20Analysis-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 498 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.