Accident Pitts S-1S Special N21WM, Friday 29 September 1995

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Date:	Friday 29 September 1995
Time:	15:30 LT
Type:	Pitts S-1S Special
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N21WM
MSN:	01
Total airframe hrs:	378 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-360
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Boynton Beach, FL - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	, FL
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON CLIMB OUT AT 2,500 FEET AGL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING BY SPIRALING DOWN OVER THE AIRPORT AND OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY. DURING THE SPIRAL THE ENGINE STARTED AND STOPPED 3 TO 4 TIMES. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY FAST, AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND STOPPED. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE BELOW A POWER LINE, ACROSS A ROAD AND STARTED A TURN TO AVOID A HOUSING AREA. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER INTO A CANAL. REVIEW OF REFUELING RECORDS SHOWED THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 7.31 HOURS ON 50.2 GALLONS OF FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO MAKE A GO-AROUND AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS A FACTOR.

Accident investigation: