# NTSB SEA95LA032: Pitts S-2B, N60823, Afton, WY, December 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1994, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Afton, WY
- Coordinates: 42.720951, -110.920654 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7210&lon=-110.9207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42095/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA032

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD APPLIED POWER IN ORDER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, BUT THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM WAS ONLY AGGRAVATED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND AS IT LEFT THE PAVED SURFACE IT FLIPPED OVER ON THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

## Factual narrative

On December 27, 1994, approximately 1400 mountain standard time (MST), an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N60823, experienced a nose-over during the landing roll at Afton Municipal Airport, Afton, Wyoming. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Casper, Wyoming about 1230 MST, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The flight had originally been on a VFR flight plan, but it had been closed prior to this leg of the trip. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, he lost directional control during the landing roll, and the application of power to initiate a go- around only aggravated the directional control problem. The aircraft flipped over after coming in contact with snow covered terrain near the edge of the runway. The pilot said that there were no problems with the aircraft's flight controls or braking system.

## 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)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60823](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60823), registered now, S/N 5269, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 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
- Airframe hours: 175
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gill, T. & Slingsby, G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, December 28, 1993, 70 hours before
- Departed: CPR, CASPER, WY
- Destination: AFO
- Airport: AFO, Afton Municipal, runway 34, 4,680 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 271 total, 81 in this make and model, 176 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- 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 19941227042349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941227042349A), Dec 27, 1994: Child S2BPITTS, Afton, WY, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing veered to edge runway. Struck snow drift and flipped 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.

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