Christen PITTS S-2B N69SZ

Summary

On 13 October 1991 at about 22:15 local time, a Christen PITTS S-2B registered N69SZ, operated by MTF, Inc., was involved in an accident near Sebring, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 October 1991 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebring, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sebring Regional (SEF)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Christen PITTS S-2B

Registration

N69SZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

MTF, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA92LA013

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE AND COLLISION WITH TALL GRASS BESIDE THE RUNWAY. THE TALL GRASS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS THE TAILWHEEL SETTLED DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTACTED TALL GRASS, WHICH CAUSED THE SPADE UNDER THE LEFT BOTTOM WING TO SEPARATE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROTATED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST. A POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE A PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE LANDING GEAR OR BRAKE SYSTEMS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.