The pilot of the aerobatic, tailwheel-equipped Aviat Pitts S2B planned to attend a fly-in at the airport in Lakeville, N.Y. As he overflew the 2,500-foot-long by 60-foot-wide private turf runway, he noted that numerous airplanes were parked along its left side, and elected to favor the right side of the runway during the landing.
During the landing roll the pilot felt a “tickle” in the control stick, and the airplane veered right into the tall grass and berm located along the runway’s right edge.
The plane subsequently rolled left and right, striking both wingtips on the ground in the process, resulting in substantial damage.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s decision to favor the right side of the relatively narrow turf runway while landing, resulting in inadvertent contact with tall grass and a berm.
NTSB Identification: ERA14CA379
This August 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
