N55MF – AEROTEK PITTS SPEC – 2009-05-24 NTSB Accident Report

On May 24, 2009, a Aerotek PITTS SPEC (N55MF) was involved in an incident near Beaver Falls, PA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing rollout.

The pilot completed three orbits above the airfield before attempting to land on runway 28. During the landing, the airplane became unstable. The pilot applied rapid deflections of the rudder and kept the airplane straight momentarily, but ultimately, it continued veering to the left. He applied full right rudder, full right break, and power. In the process, the airplane “tipped forward” onto the right main landing gear and rolled onto the right wingtip. The propeller contacted the runway several times before the airplane exited the left side of the runway at about a 70 degree angle, and nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Wind at the time was from the south west approximately 7 knots.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA09CA307. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N55MF.