Christen PITTS S-2S N15PU

Summary

On 24 November 2012 at about 18:00 local time, a Christen PITTS S-2S registered N15PU was involved in an accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, 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

24 November 2012 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Grain Valley, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

East Kansas City Airport (3GV)

Coordinates

39.0144, -94.2147

Aircraft

Christen PITTS S-2S

Registration

N15PU

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grain Valley → Grain Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper landing flare, which led to a bounced landing and subsequent loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he applied aft control stick to "pin the tail" on the runway. The airplane bounced off the runway surface, veered to the right, and the pilot attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing attempt, the left wing struck the terrain. Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded back onto the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left lower wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.