# NTSB MIA95LA003: Pitts S1C, N2997G, Plant City, FL, October 5, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1994, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Plant City, FL
- Coordinates: 27.98093, -82.100669 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9809&lon=-82.1007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA003

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT RUNNING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSING OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THE NOSE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND BEFORE THE PILOT COULD REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN MUD.

## Factual narrative

On October 5, 1994, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S1C, N2997G, registered to David F. Bland, ran off the runway and nosed over while landing at Plant City Airport, Plant City, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Plant City, Florida, on October 5, 1994, about 0830.

The pilot stated that during landing the aircraft touched down on runway 27 at about 60 knots and bounced slightly. The aircraft's nose cocked 20 degrees to the left and the aircraft touched down again. The aircraft then proceeded on a 240-heading and ran off the runway. After traveling about 50 feet the aircraft encountered soft terrain and nosed over onto its back.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2997G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2997G), registered now, S/N BM-01 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S1C
- Registry model: [Pitts SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-special) (registry code 72202KL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-320-series) (registry code 41500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: BM01
- Airframe hours: 1735
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-D1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bland, David F.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 1994, 35 hours before
- Airport: X17, Plant City, runway 27, 3,350 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight engineer, airline transport, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,500 total, 46 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 15 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 19941005033359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941005033359A), Oct 5, 1994: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Plant City, FL, Substantial damage. Lost control landing in crosswind ran off runway. Nosed over in soft terrain.

## Other investigations on N2997G (2)

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.

- [NTSB ERA11CA477](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA477), Aug 20, 2011: Pitts Special (N2997G), Bessemer, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB MKC77FER61](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FER61), Jul 16, 1977: Pitts S-1S (N2997G), Jordan, MN, substantial damage

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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