Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA95LA032

AFTON, WY, USA

Aircraft #1

N60823

PITTS S-2B

Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD APPLIED POWER IN ORDER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND, BUT THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM WAS ONLY AGGRAVATED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND AS IT LEFT THE PAVED SURFACE IT FLIPPED OVER ON THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

Factual Information

On December 27, 1994, approximately 1400 mountain standard time (MST), an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N60823, experienced a nose-over during the landing roll at Afton Municipal Airport, Afton, Wyoming. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Casper, Wyoming about 1230 MST, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The flight had originally been on a VFR flight plan, but it had been closed prior to this leg of the trip. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he lost directional control during the landing roll, and the application of power to initiate a go- around only aggravated the directional control problem. The aircraft flipped over after coming in contact with snow covered terrain near the edge of the runway. The pilot said that there were no problems with the aircraft's flight controls or braking system.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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