# Accident 19970406004911A: Amtr PITTSS2E, Arlington, WA, April 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Airport: Arlington Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.1804° N, 121.6705° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1804&lon=-121.6705&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45WA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45WA-2012-11-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Allen-Wayne PITTS S-1E (registry code 7221009, https://openairdocs.org/model/allen-wayne-pitts-s-1e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR PITTSS2E
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,282 total, 38 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970406004911A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT IN TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR TOUCH AND GLANDINGS. STRUCK TAIL OF DEPARTING AIRCRAFT. (.4) THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT OF A CESSNA TAXIED ONTO RUNWAY 34 AFTER VISUALLY CHECKING FOR OTHER AIRPLANES IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND TRANSMITTING HIS INTENTIONS TO TAKE OFF. MEANWHILE, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT OF A PITTS WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE SAME RUNWAY AFTER TRANSMITTING THAT HE WAS TURNING BASE TO FINAL ONTO THE SAME RUNWAY. AS THE CESSNA WAS CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PITTS OVERTOOK IT AND DESCENDED INTO THE TAIL OF THE CESSNA. THE PITTS CONTINUED DOWNWARD AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY ON ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHILE THE CESSNA FLIPPED INVERTED AND FELL ONTO THE RUNWAY. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, NOR DID THEY HEAR EACH OTHER OVER THE RADIO. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THE PITTS PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS WATCHING A RED AIRPLANE COMPLETE A LANDING ROLLOUT ON THE RUNWAY WHILE THE PITTS WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE SAME RUNWAY, AND THAT HE NEVER SAW THE CESSNA PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PITTS DID NOT HAVE A LANDING LIGHT INSTALLED.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N4100U, Cessna 150D: [Accident 19970406004912A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970406004912A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA97LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA083), Apr 6, 1997: Allen-Wayne Pitts S-1E (N45WA), Arlington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the commercial pilot to perform an adequate visual lookout while on final approach for landing on the runway, and the failure of the student pilot of the other airplane to perform an…

## Other reports on N45WA (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950609016749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950609016749I), Jun 9, 1995: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1 (N45WA), Everett, WA, Minor damage. Narrative: while landing the pilot lost directional control and then groundlooped.
- [Accident 19810531030099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810531030099A), May 31, 1981: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1 (N45WA), Medina, OH, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel near airport. Landed short of runway in plowed field, nosed over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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