Pitts S-1 accident near Durham, NC

On July 17, 2004, a Pitts S-1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Durham, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

July 17, 2004

Place

Durham, NC

Aircraft

Pitts S-1 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

36.064°N, 78.784°W

NTSB ID

20040727X01076

Official records · ATL04LA158

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 17, 2004, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-1 experimental airplane, N177J, registered to and operated by the recreational pilot, collided with the ground during a go-around to runway 32, at the Lake Ridge Aero Park Airport, in Durham, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Wilson, North Carolina, at 1000, on July 17, 2004. According to a witness the airplane was observed landing on runway 32. During the touchdown phase of the landing, the airplane bounced two times, followed by the pilot executing a go-around. According to the witness the airplane flew a very tight pattern circling to land again on runway 32. During the next approach to land the airplane was observed entering a "hard slip" to the left then nosed up as it was recovering from the slip, then entered a spin and collided with the ground at a slightly nose down attitude. The witness telephoned the 911 operator and reported the accident, then drove his vehicle to the airplane in an attempt to assist the pilot. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of information on file with the Federal Aviation Administration Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a recreational pilot's certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land. A review of records on file with the FAA Aero Medical Rec

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.