# NTSB GAA17CA181: Aerotek Pitts S-2A, N1230S, West Palm Beach, FL, March 8, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 8, 2017, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.845832, -80.222221 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8458&lon=-80.2222&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 June 7, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94851/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94851
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA181

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.

## 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: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0110201), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0110201), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after completing 12 to 13 touch-and-go landings on a grass runway in crosswind conditions, he planned to complete a full-stop landing. He added that, during the landing roll, the airplane "departed the runway to the right" into marshy terrain and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, a few hours after the accident, he examined the grass runway and found no abnormalities with the surface. The nearest automated weather observation station, located 12 nautical miles from the accident airport, about the time of the accident, recorded wind from 190° at 7 knots. The pilot reported that he landed on runway 26 left.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that after 12 to 13 touch-and-go landings on a grass runway in crosswind conditions, he planned to complete a full stop landing. He added that during the landing roll, the airplane "departed the runway to the right" into marshy terrain and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, a few hours after the accident he inspected the grass runway and found no abnormalities with the surface. The nearest automated weather observation station 12 nautical miles from the accident airport, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 190° at 7 knots. The pilot reported that he landed on runway 26 left.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1230S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1230S-2017-06-08), registration cancelled 2017-06-08, S/N 2216, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROTEK PITTS S-2A
- Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s-2a) (registry code 0110201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2216
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 1359.15
- Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-AIE 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, December 29, 2016
- Departed: F45, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Destination: F45, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County Genera, runway 26R, 3,679 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 22,000 total, 13 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KPBI, 12 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 20170308001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170308001209A), Mar 8, 2017: Pitts PITTS-S2A, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. ^Mr. Jacobson^ landed on turf rwy 26R at F45 after a dozen uneventful touch & go's. on last landing the aircraft departed the runway on the right hand side,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94851. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 906 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.

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