Aviat Aircraft INC PITTS S 2B accident near Grants, New Mexico, May 31, 2014
On May 31, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1996 Aviat Aircraft INC PITTS S 2B, registered N9YH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Grants, New Mexico (Grants-Milan airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grants, New Mexico · Grants-Milan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC PITTS S 2B B, built 1996 · all PITTS S 2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9YH · registry record · serial 5348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was hired to reposition the airplane for the owner. According to the owner who spoke with the pilot, during the landing, the pilot encountered gusty winds which caused him to lose airplane control and impact terrain adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The owner stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane owner completed the Pilot/Operator Accident Report (National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] Form 6120.1), as the owner reported the pilot was uncooperative since the accident. The substantial damage to the airplane was reported to the NTSB on December 9, 2014, after a detailed inspection of the airplane damage was performed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 337 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 360 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 10:00 pm
- Destination: GNT Grants NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 7,172 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on December 17, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.