Crash location | 39.526111°N, 107.726945°W |
Nearest city | Rifle, CO
39.534702°N, 107.783120°W 3.1 miles away |
Tail number | N540S |
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Accident date | 13 Aug 2009 |
Aircraft type | Grahn J/GRAHN G Pitts S2S |
Additional details: | None |
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had just completed practice for his air show performance and was landing on runway 26. The pilot stated that he landed fast and while braking to make an intersection, the brakes became hot and the right brake began to fade. The airplane began to track to the left and the pilot steered the airplane between two taxi lights. The airplane impacted a taxiway sign, breaking the right lower right inboard spar. The pilot did not see the sign prior to impact. An examination of the airplane, conducted by the FAA, revealed no mechanical anomalies.
The pilot's excessive landing speed and subsequent excessive brake application which resulted in a loss of control and impact with an airport sign.