# NTSB NYC94LA070: Aviat Pitts S-2B, N60827, Albion, NY, March 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1994, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Albion, NY - Coordinates: 43.139423, -77.550376 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1394&lon=-77.5504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38743/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA070 ## Probable cause the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, and the subsequent collision with soft terrain and nose over. Factors related to the accident were: the snowbanks on either side of the runway, and the pilot's lack of recent flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, WHICH WAS 36 FEET WIDE, WITH SNOWBANKS ON EITHER SIDE. THE SNOWBANK ON THE LEFT SIDE APPEARED TO BE ON THE RUNWAY, SO THE PILOT FAVORED THE RIGHT SIDE DURING TOUCHDOWN. ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR IMPACTED SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 5.6 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, March 20, 1994, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Pitts S-2B, N60827, piloted by Eric R. Rueckwald, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Pine Hill Airport, Albion, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was landing on runway 28, which is 2675 feet long and 36 feet wide. The winds were from 290 degrees at 7 knots. In his report, the pilot stated: ...I saw the snow banks on either side of me. Since the snow bank on the left side looked like it was creeping up the runway, I chose to land a very small amount right of centerline. I stayed to the right of the centerline to avoid the snow bank on the left which was encroaching on the runway....I got sucked to the right, I felt the wheel get in the mud, I remember putting the rudder over directly on top of the right snow bank...The next thing I remember was being in the airplane upsidedown... The pilot reported that he had flown a total of 5.6 hours in this or any other airplane in the previous 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60827](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60827), registered now, S/N 5280, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat PITTS S-2B - Registry model: [Aviat PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5280 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ruekwald Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: 7G0, BROCKPORT, NY - Airport: 9G6, Pine Hill Airport, runway 28, 2,675 × 36 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 196 total, 29 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °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 19940320015789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940320015789A), Mar 20, 1994: Child S2BPITTS, Albion, NY, Substantial damage. Landing narrow runway between snowbanks. Right main off right edge into soft terrain. Pitts nosed over. 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.