Pitts S-2A N31517

Summary

On 18 May 1998 at about 00:00 local time, a Pitts S-2A registered N31517 was involved in an accident near Benton, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 1998 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

37.7810, -97.1007

Aircraft

Pitts S-2A

Registration

N31517

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA160

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot did not flare the airplane properly during the forced landing. A factor was the engine failure for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had recently installed the engine in the airplane after it had been overhauled. The purpose of the flight was a maintenance check flight and engine break-in. The pilot conducted the normal preflight and engine run-up procedures in accordance with the Airplane Flight Manual. He reported no abnormal indications were observed. The takeoff and initial climbout were normal with no anomalies observed. At approximately 400 feet agl, the engine sputtered and lost partial power. He established a nose down attitude to maintain airspeed. He turned to the left. He reported the engine lost complete power and he conducted a forced landing to a wheat field adjacent to the airport. A witness reported the nose pitched down about 45 degrees after the engine failure. He reported, 'The airplane continued on this -45 degree line, wings level and in control until impact.' The witness reported that during the power-on portion of the flight, no smoke or vapor trails were seen. After the engine quit, the propeller continued to windmill. During the inspection of the airplane, no mechanical anomalies to the airframe or engine were noted. The engine was put on a test stand and it operated normally.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.