N55H

On June 5, 2006, about 1915 central daylight time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N55H, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing when the airplane exited runway 26 (1,930 feet by 50 feet ,dry grass), impacted high vegetation, and nosed over at the J & S Field Airport, near Darmstadt, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Hepler Airport, near St. Wendel, Indiana, at 1910.

The pilot's accident report, in part, stated:

Normal approach - 100 mph, 900 [feet above ground level]

downwind pattern. Touched down center of runway, plane was on

the ground and rolling. Everything felt right and normal. Started

pulling to right added left rudder, right wing contacted wheat along

edge of runway and pulled plane into [field.]

At 1854, the recorded wind at the Evansville Regional Airport, near Evansville, Indiana, was 070 degrees at 7 knots.

Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the runway and wreckage. The landing gear from the accident airplane was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for detailed examination. Examination of the landing gear components revealed the separations were consistent with overload.