# NTSB MIA96LA189: Pitts S-2B, N6082E, Boca Raton, FL, July 12, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1996, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Boca Raton, FL
- Location: 26.3785° N, 80.1077° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BOCA RATON (BCT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3785&lon=-80.1077&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38053
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38053/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA189

## Probable cause

the dual student's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. The gusty/crosswind condition was a related factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The instructor pilot (CFI) was providing instruction to the airplane's owner. During a crosswind landing, the student flared too high. The CFI stated, the airspeed was close to the 'stall speed.'  The CFI attempted to recover; however, the left wing struck the runway as a go-around procedure was made. The wind was reported to be from 190 degrees at 10 gusting 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

On July 12, 1996, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-2B, N6082E, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, training flight, crashed in the vicinity of Boca Raton, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged.  The flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot, dual student, were not injured.

The instructor pilot was providing instruction to the airplane's owner.  During the landing the student flared too high.  The instructor stated, "Flare to land (crosswind runway 23...) to high, airspeed close to stall speed...."  The instructor attempted to recover by placing the left wing into the wind, however, the left wing struck the runway, as the go around procedure was made.  Initially the damages to the airplane were reported as minor.  The FAA examined the airplane and reevaluated the damage as substantial.

The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 190 degrees, at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6082E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Pitts S-2B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5226
- Airframe hours: 434
- Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rudi Gallow
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1995, 47 hours before
- Departed: FXE, FT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Destination: BCT
- Airport: BCT, Boca Raton, runway 23, 5,197 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 878 total, 131 in this make and model, 771 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 19960712018279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960712018279A), Jul 12, 1996: Child S2BPITTS, Baco Raton, FL, Substantial damage. CFI giving dual to owner. Student flared high. CFI tried recover but wing hit runway. Went around. Wing damaged.

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.