# NTSB SEA08CA181: Eberle Pitts S1S, N39124, Show Low, AZ, August 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2008, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Show Low, AZ - Coordinates: 34.265556, -110.000556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2656&lon=-110.0006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA181 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in the airplane. ## 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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 said that he was landing at the airport to refuel. During the landing, he flared the tail wheel-equipped airplane too high, the airplane bounced and began to veer to the left. The pilot aborted the landing and climbed the airplane back to pattern altitude for a second landing attempt. He flared and the airplane touched down; however, it veered to the left toward the edge of the runway. Just prior to the airplane leaving the runway surface, he added full power to go around. The airplane turned to the right, but the left wing rose and the airplane nosed down. The right and left wing tips impacted the runway as the airplane skidded down it for approximately 300 feet. The pilot had about 3 hours of flight time in the airplane make/model. He indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he was landing at the airport to refuel. During the landing, he flared the tail wheel-equipped airplane too high, the airplane bounced and began to veer to the left. The pilot aborted the landing and climbed the airplane back to pattern altitude for a second landing attempt. He flared and the airplane touched down; however, it veered to the left toward the edge of the runway. Just prior to the airplane leaving the runway surface, he added full power to go around. The airplane turned to the right, but the left wing rose and the airplane nosed down. The right and left wing tips impacted the runway as the airplane skidded down it for approximately 300 feet. The pilot had about 3 hours of flight time in the airplane make/model. He indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: N39124 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Eberle Pitts S1S - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20938 - Engines: Textron Lycoming AEIO-550-B4A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brian Roodvoets - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: AVQ, Marana, AZ - Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ - Airport: SOW, Show Low, runway 24, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 273 total, 3 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KSOW ## 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 20080817845519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080817845519A), Aug 17, 2008: Amtr PITTSSPECS1S, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot is from Michigan and had returned home prior to this investigation. Per telecon information received from the pilot, he was making a landing at… 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.