# Accident 20190119017572A: Aviat Inc PITTS S-1T, Torrance, CA, January 19, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 19, 2019, 09:50 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8014° N, 118.3419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8014&lon=-118.3419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31WK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31WK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat PITTS S-1T (registry code 2210310, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-pitts-s-1t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT INC PITTS S-1T
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 310 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19TA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190119017572A

## Narrative

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

N31WK LANDED ON RUNWAY 29L AND CLEARED THE RUNWAY. AFTER COORDINATING WITH GROUND CONTROL, TOWER ISSUED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO N21WK TO TAXI VIA ALPHA THE EAST T HANGERS. GROUND CONTROL WAS RECORDING THE NEW ATIS. N27GM WAS CALLING FOR TAXI FROM THE EAST T HANGERS AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. GROUND CONTROL DID NOT HEAR THE INITIAL REQUEST AND ASKED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE EAST T HANGERS TO, ?SAY AGAIN.? N27GM REPEATED HIS REQUEST AND GROUND CONTROL ASKED HIM TO VERIFY HIS POSITION. N27GM ATTEMPTED TO RESPOND BUT HIS TRANSMISSION WAS UNREADABLE. GROUND CONTROL MADE SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT LONG EASY N27GM WITH NO LUCK.

THE PILOT IN PITTS (CONVENTIONAL WHEEL AIRCRAFT) N21WK, AFTER CLEARING RUNWAY 29L, BEGAN TAXIING TO THE EAST T HANGERS. AT THE START OF HIS TAXI, THE PILOT DID A FEW S-TURNS AS HE TAXIED TO ENSURE THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF HIM. IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE FOR CONVENTIONAL WHEEL AIRCRAFT TO CONSTANTLY MAKE S-TURNS WHILE TAXING BECAUSE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ONLY MADE THE S-TURNS AT THE START OF HIS TAXI BUT DID NOT CONTINUE.

THE PILOT, IN LONG EASY N27GM, WAS TAXIING FROM THE T-HANGERS FOR TAKEOFF. WHILE HE WAS TAXIING IN THE NON-MOVEMENT AREA HE MADE A CALL TO GROUND CONTROL FOR CLEARANCE TO TAXI. HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE CONTACTING GROUND CONTROL, SO HE REMAINED IN THE NON-MOVEMENT AREA AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALPHA AND JULIET. HE SAW THE PITTS COMING DOWN ALPHA, BUT ASSUMED THE PITTS WAS GOING TO TURN ONTO JULIET FOR TAKEOFF ON 29R. HE NEVER HEARD THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO N21WK. IF HIS RADIOS HAD BEEN WORKING FINE AT THE TIME, HE STILL WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO N21WK, BECAUSE THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED ON TOWER FREQUENCY.

PITTS, N21WK, CRASHED INTO LONG EASY, N27GM, HEAD ON. THE PILOT, IN THE LONG EASY, STATED THAT BY THE TIME HE REALIZED THAT THE PITTS WAS NOT TURNING, IT WAS TOO LATE TO TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N27GM, Mason Gerald W VARIEZE: [Accident 20190119017722A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190119017722A)

## 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 WPR19TA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA068), Jan 19, 2019: Pitts S1 (N31WK), Torrance, CA, minor damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while taxing, which resulted in a ground collision.

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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