Amateur-built Pitts S1S accident near Duncannon, Pennsylvania, September 27, 2003
On September 27, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Pitts S1S, registered N465JW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duncannon, Pennsylvania (Chestnut Hill Airport). It was a personal 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 directional control while landing. Factors were the gusting cross winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Duncannon, Pennsylvania · Chestnut Hill Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pitts S1S
- Registration
- N465JW · registry record · serial JW2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initially flew over the airport to check the wind and field conditions. The approach to runway 7 was uneventful; however, the airplane encountered a wind gust prior to touchdown. The airplane initially touched down, but a second gust of wind forced it back into the air. The airplane touched down a second time, and was not aligned with the runway. The airplane subsequently veered left and began to travel off the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder and brake, but was unable to regain directional control. The reported wind at an airport approximately 10 miles southeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 160 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident site was from 160 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 705 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 08N Keller Brothers PA
- Destination: 5PS5 Duncannon PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from CXY, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.