# NTSB GAA20CA056: Pitts S1, Monument Valley, UT, November 3, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 3, 2019, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Monument Valley, UT - Coordinates: 37.016666, -110.200553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0167&lon=-110.2006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100531/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100531 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing after a wing struck vegetation, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent ground-loop. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while conducting a three-point landing, the biplane's lower right wing struck vegetation along the edge of the runway. The biplane then veered right off the runway. She decided to abort the landing and added power to go around, but the biplane ground looped to the left, and both lower wings struck the ground. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both lower wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that, while conducting a 3-point landing, the lower right wing struck vegetation along the edge of the runway. The biplane veered to the right off the runway. She decided to abort the landing and added power to go around, but the biplane ground looped to the left and both lower wings struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage and both lower wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: C-GMEE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Pitts S1 (C) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-0199 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 920 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2019 - Departed: PGA, Page, AZ - Destination: UT25, Monument Valley, UT - Airport: UT25, Monument Valley, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2019; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,700 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KBDG, 48 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100531. 780 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479295&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.