River Acres Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Okeechobee, Florida 34972
Saturday, March 13, 2010 16:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he encountered a strong crosswind during landing on runway 33, a 3,875-foot-long, 66-foot-wide, turf runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot was "unable to recover". The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the upper wing, empennage, and rudder. The pilot reported he did not experience any mechanical anomalies during the accident. The winds reported at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Okeechobee
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34972
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271931N
Event Location Longitude 0810143W
Event Location Airport River Acres Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FD70
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 30
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.73
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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) 26923
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2010 3:01PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17CF
NTSB Number ERA10CA182
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 FREDERICKSON CHARLES A
Aircraft Model PITTS S-2E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number K0024
Certified Max Gross Weight 1575
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1226
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SERENITY TRANSPORT LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8200 NW 27TH ST STE 101
Aircraft Owner City DORAL
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33122-1902
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SERENITY TRANSPORT LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8200 NW 27TH ST STE 101
Operator City DORAL
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33122-1902
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OBE
Departure City Okeechobee
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OBE
Destination City Okeechobee
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2010 1:35PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 3875
Runway Width 66
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --