Event FTW97LA273

Factual narrative

On July 18, 1997, at 0715 mountain daylight time, a Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, N5351N, collided with the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) at Front Range Airport, Aurora, Colorado, while conducting touch and go landings. The flight instructor and private pilot student were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 0600 and following the collision landed at Centennial Airport at 0730. According to the flight instructor, after recovering from a bounced landing, he encountered a strong crosswind and the aircraft struck an airport light. Following this encounter, he said he flew the aircraft back to his point of departure (Centennial Airport). On landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the aircraft by the NTSB Investigator In Charge, revealed damage to the left main landing gear, lower portion of the left lower wing, and damage to the lower surface of the fuselage. According to the manager of Front Range Airport, the PAPI is located on the west side of runway 35 approximately 1,000 feet down the runway from the approach end. He said the control box was totally destroyed. Recorded wind at the time of the encounter was from 240 degrees magnetic at 8 knots. When landing on runway 35 a quartering tailwind from the west at 3.5 knots was present. During a touch and go landing at an intermediate airport, the flight instructor said he encountered a strong crosswind and performed a bounced landing. During the ensuing takeoff, the aircraft struck the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) control box located beside the runway. The instructor flew the aircraft back to the departure airport and during landing the left main landing gear collapsed. Subsequent inspection revealed damage to the landing gear, left lower wing, and the bottom of the fuselage. Recorded wind at the time of the encounter with the PAPI constituted a left quartering tailwind at 3.5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12