# NTSB GAA19CA577: Pitts S2, N5310S, Morrisville, VT, September 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2019, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Morrisville, VT - Coordinates: 44.534442, -72.613891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5344&lon=-72.6139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA577 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100353/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100353 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA577 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose down. ## 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 S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0110304), [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 S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0110304), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0110304), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerotek PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0110304), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the biplane veered right. He applied left rudder and brakes, the left wingtip scraped the runway, and the biplane exited the runway to the left. He then applied more brakes to avoid a drainage ditch, and the biplane nosed down. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower, left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The biplane pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the biplane veered right. He applied left rudder and brakes, the left-wing tip scrapped the runway and the biplane exited the runway to the left. He then applied more brakes to avoid a drainage ditch and the biplane nosed down. The pilot reported that the biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower, left-wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5310S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5310S), registered now, S/N 5004, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts S2 (B) - Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 0110304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5004 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 2305 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO 540 D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2019 - Departed: MVL, Morrisville, VT - Destination: MVL, Morrisville, VT - Airport: MVL, Morrisville-Stowe State, runway 01, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 17, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KMVL ## 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 20190928023119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190928023119A), Sep 28, 2019: Aerotek Inc PITTS S-2B, Morrisville, VT, Substantial damage. Pilot in command and only occupant of this aerobatic bi-wing airplane stated that he had completed aerobatic flight in the aerobatic box adjacent to runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100353. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480090&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.