Grahn J/Grahn G PITTS S2S N540S

Summary

On 13 August 2009 at about 20:30 local time, a Grahn J/Grahn G PITTS S2S registered N540S was involved in an accident near Rifle, Colorado, United States. One person was 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 August 2009 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rifle, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Garfield County Regional Airpo (KRIL)

Coordinates

39.5261, -107.7269

Aircraft

Grahn J/Grahn G PITTS S2S

Registration

N540S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rifle → Rifle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA520

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive landing speed and subsequent excessive brake application which resulted in a loss of control and impact with an airport sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had just completed practice for his air show performance and was landing on runway 26. The pilot stated that he landed fast and while braking to make an intersection, the brakes became hot and the right brake began to fade. The airplane began to track to the left and the pilot steered the airplane between two taxi lights. The airplane impacted a taxiway sign, breaking the right lower right inboard spar. The pilot did not see the sign prior to impact. An examination of the airplane, conducted by the FAA, revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.