N6PS

On July 31, 1999, about 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, a Pitts S-2A, N6PS, was substantially damaged while landing at the Alexandria Airport (N85), Pittstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot, and the pilot passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that following an uneventful flight from 12N, she entered the traffic pattern at N85. All necessary pre-landing checks were completed, and a normal approach was performed to Runway 26, a 2,550 foot long asphalt runway. A check of the windsock indicated a light crosswind from the left.

As the airplane approached the end of the runway, it encountered sink, and power was added to compensate. The airplane then impacted a bush, located about 15 feet from the approach end of the runway, touched down hard, and skidded off the left side of the runway into grass. The airplane came to rest upright, nose down.

The weather reported at an airport, located about 16 miles to the northwest, at 1251 was; winds variable at 3 knots, and a temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit.