Orlando Sanford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32117
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 12:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot executed a downwind approach and touched down on runway 9 center. During landing roll at 10 miles per hour, a tailwind picked up the tail of the airplane. The airplane's propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the propeller and spinner were damaged, the top wing spar support members were bent, one outboard wing spar was broken, the top rudder bow was bent with wrinkling of the fuselage at the base of the fin, the leading edge of the top wing showed cracks on both sides of the fuel tank, and the engine mounts were displaced.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing roll in a tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over on the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/19/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Sanford
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32117
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Orlando Sanford Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KSFB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 55
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 55
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) 1100
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSFB 191753Z 26010KT 10SM CLR 22/08 A2999 RM
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11717
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 19 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO - 15

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N522H
NTSB Number ATL02LA018
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Pitts
Aircraft Model S-1S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 093
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 30 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 187
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John L. Heverling
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1444 Pelican Bay Trail
Aircraft Owner City Winter Park
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32792
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KSFB
Departure City Sanford
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 8 2002 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9C
Runway Length 3578
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --