NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CEN23LA222
Registry · N1PW
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PITTS S-2S
Year of manufacture
1979 · 44 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING AEIO-540-D4A5 (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20160812
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0015C
Registrant of record
WELKIN AERO INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing roll due to a flat tire.
Factual narrative
During the landing roll on a grass runway, the airplane decelerated quicker than the pilot expected, pulled to the right, and nosed over which resulted in a ground loop. The right lower wing and right elevator were substantially damaged during the ground loop. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed that the right main landing gear wheel inner tube and tire was likely flat prior to landing due to an undetected cut in the inner tube. The flat tire resulted in wheel pant fairing to contact the grass runway and the airplane became uncontrollable. Following the accident, the inner tube was inflated by the pilot and an audible leak was observed from the cut rubber area. The pilot reported that the tube was replaced during last the condition inspection, and it was unknown what caused the cut in the inner tube. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Tube-Failure
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2023_CEN23LA222.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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