# Accident 19980711016539A: Amtr PITTSSPECS1S, Tracy, CA, July 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 1998, 11:50 local time
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Airport: Tracy Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7303° N, 121.4209° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7303&lon=-121.4209&mi=10
- Aircraft: N71HR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71HR-1999-03-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ross Herbert E PITTS SPECIAL S1-S (registry code 72206AB, https://openairdocs.org/model/ross-herbert-e-pitts-special-s1-s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR PITTSSPECS1S
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 723 total, 258 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980711016539A

## Narrative

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

FAILED TO RECOVER FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT AN APPROPIATE ALTITUDE. STRUK PILE OF GRAVEL IN GRAVEL PIT.(.4) THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS IN A CHARTED AEROBATICS PRACTICE BOX, PART OF WHICH WAS OVER A GRAVEL PILE/CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE AIRCRAFT CO-OWNER WAS ON THE GROUND WATCHING THE PILOT'S ROUTINE. HE MAINTAINED RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INFORMED THE AIRCRAFT CO-OWNER THAT HE WAS FINISHED AND THE CO-OWNER STARTED TO HEAD BACK TO THE AIRPORT. A GROUND WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVER UNDER A SERIES OF TELEPHONE LINES AND AROUND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ABOUT 15 FEET AGL OR LESS. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO PULL UP AS IT IMPACTED THE GRAVEL PIT. THE WITNESS FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPREARED TO HAVE POWER THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVERING AND HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DECREASE IN ENGINE NOISE. THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES AND DOES NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CO-OWNER REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.                                                                                                      (-23) APPEARS THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO RECOVER FROM AEROBATIC MANEUVERS AT INAPPROPRIATE ALTITUDE. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A PEE GRAVEL PILE LOCATED AT A LOCAL GRAVEL PIT.

## 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 LAX98LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA228), Jul 11, 1998: Pitts S1-S (N71HR), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate clearance with the terrain during aerobatic maneuvering.

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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