# NTSB ANC95LA137: Guevremont Pitts Special S1C, N1270, Talkeetna, AK, August 11, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1995, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449699, -149.790924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4497&lon=-149.7909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA137

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF RUDDER CONTROL, AS HE YAWED THE AIRPLANE TO SEE AHEAD DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND A SUBSEQUENT GROUND SWERVE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ANIMAL (MOOSE) AND HIGH VEGETATION (BUSHES) NEAR THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - animal(s) (contributing factor)
  - rudder - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE WAS BACK TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF ON THE RUNWAY, HE NOTICED A MOOSE STANDING ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. HE ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. WHEN THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 25 MPH DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT 'SWERVED' THE AIRPLANE TO SEE THE MOOSE AROUND THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE RESPONDED VERY QUICKLY, AND BEFORE HE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED, IT WENT OFF THE RUNWAY INTO ALDER BUSHES AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On August 11, 1995, at 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Pitts, PTS1C airplane, N1270, registered to and operated by the pilot, veered off the runway and nosed over during the takeoff roll at Talkeetna, Alaska.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing Talkeetna and the destination was Birchwood, Alaska.  No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.

During a telephone conversation with the pilot on August 14, 1995, he stated that as he was back taxiing for takeoff on the runway, he saw a moose standing in the alder bushes adjacent to the runway.  He aligned the airplane for takeoff and applied power.  When the airplane reached an approximate speed of 25 miles per hour, he "swerved" the airplane so he could see the moose around the nose of the airplane.  He stated the airplane responded quickly and before he knew it, he was off the side of the runway and the airplane nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1270 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GUEVREMONT PITTS SPECIAL S1C (PITTS SPEC)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6766
- Airframe hours: 470
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dale E. Kenny
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1994, 17 hours before
- Destination: Z15, BIRCHWOOD, AK
- Airport: TKA, Talkeetna, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,100 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TKA, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950811023139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950811023139A), Aug 11, 1995: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Swerved to check runway clear on takeoff roll. Lost control. Veered off runway. Nosed over.

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.

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