Pitts S-2A N18BT

Summary

On 8 July 2009 at about 00:47 local time, a Pitts S-2A registered N18BT was involved in an accident near Springfield, Illinois, 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

8 July 2009 at 00:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Abraham Lincoln Capital Airpor (SPI)

Coordinates

39.8442, -89.6781

Aircraft

Pitts S-2A

Registration

N18BT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA421

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control while landing due to the unintentional obstruction of the rudder by the passenger.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing the tail wheel equipped airplane when the accident happened. He stated that the airplane touched down on one main wheel first and the airplane shifted and rapidly turned right. He stated that the airplane's movement resulted in his passenger's body shifting to the left against the left rudder/brake pedal. The rear seat rudder pedals are located near the front seat occupant's hips. The pilot stated that he attempted to correct with left rudder, but was unable due to the obstruction of the rudder pedal by the front seat passenger's body. The airplane subsequently ground looped. The damage to the airplane included collapse of the main landing gear, damage to the left lower wing, and damage to the upper wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.