# Accident 20240825012139A: Fisher Jerald R PITTS S-1, Santa Paula, CA, August 25, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2024, 12:24 local time
- Place: Santa Paula, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3506° N, 119.0523° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3506&lon=-119.0523&mi=10
- Aircraft: N42JF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42JF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fisher Jerald R PITTS S-1 (registry code 72207A3, https://openairdocs.org/model/fisher-jerald-r-pitts-s-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FISHER JERALD R PITTS S-1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA287) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240825012139A

## Narrative

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

JUST AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SZP RUNWAY 22 THE ENGINE MADE SOME LOUD POPPING NOISE LIKE BACKFIRES THEN SOUNDED NORMAL. THE PILOT THEN TURNED CROSSWIND THEN IMMEDIATELY DOWNWIND.  ON DOWNWIND THE BACKFIRE NOISE HAPPENED AGAIN THEN THE ENGINE NOISE BECAME SILENT AS IF THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A QUICK TURN TO BASE, ON BASE HE NOTICED TRAFFIC ON FINAL, HE THEN TURNED RIGHT TO PASS BEHIND TRAFFIC. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAUGHT ON FIRE ON IMPACT. THE PILOT EXTRACTED HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS SEVERELY BURNED OVER A LARGE PORTION OF HIS BODY. THE PILOT WAS PLACED INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PILOT INTERVIEW.

DURING THE POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND TO BE IN A POSITION HALFWAY BETWEEN THE AUX. TANK AND MAIN FUEL TANK SELECTION. IT CAN NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE SELECTOR WAS IN THIS POSITION PRIOR TO THE CRASH OR IF THE FORCES OF THE CRASH MOVED THE SELECTOR INTO THIS POSITION.

## 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 WPR24FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA287), Aug 25, 2024: Pitts S1 (N42JF), Santa Paula, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined.

## Other reports on N42JF (1)

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

- [Accident 19821107057069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821107057069A), Nov 7, 1982: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C (N42JF), San Andreas, CA, Destroyed. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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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