# NTSB ATL04LA161: Long Pitts Special S1S, N60D, New Bern, NC, July 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2004, 15:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: New Bern, NC - Coordinates: 35.073055, -77.043052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0731&lon=-77.0431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds and his failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with an airport sign. A factor was the crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - runway - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during landing roll on runway 22, a wind gust picked up the left wings and pushed the airplane to the right of the runway. He stated he added power to go around, and the airplane's right wing collided with an airport runway/taxiway sign. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right side of the fuselage, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the lower right wing. The weather observation station for the airport reported at 1542 winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 5 statute miles with haze, with lightning distant west and northwest. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2004, at 1537 eastern daylight time, a Long Pitts Special S1S experimental airplane, N60D, registered to a private owner and operated by the private pilot, collided with an airport sign at the Craven County Regional Airport, New Bern, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual metrological conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed New Bern, North Carolina, at 1525 on July 23, 2004. The pilot stated he flew the airplane in the local area, then returned to the airport and was cleared to land on runway 22. The pilot stated he intended a full-stop landing. He stated that, during landing roll, a wind gust picked up the left wings and pushed the airplane to the right of the runway. He stated that he added power to go-around, and the airplane's lower right wing collided with an airport runway/taxiway sign. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right side of the fuselage, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the lower right wing. The weather observation station for the airport reported at 1542 winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 5 statute miles with haze, with lightning distant west and northwest. The pilot stated he had just purchased the airplane. At the time of the accident, Federal Aviation Administration records did not yet reflect the ownership change. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60D-2013-07-01), registration cancelled 2013-07-01, S/N 7-0061, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Long Pitts Special S1S - Registry model: [Long Dennis L PITTS SPECIAL S1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/long-dennis-l-pitts-special-s1s) (registry code 72206BU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-0061 - Airframe hours: 713 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 23, 2004, 689 hours before - Departed: KEWN, New Bern, NC - Destination: KEWN, New Bern, NC - Airport: KEWN, Craven County Regional, runway 22, 6,004 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 931 total, 8 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KEWN ## 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 20040723029809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040723029809A), Jul 23, 2004: Aviat PITTSS1S, New Bern, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was shooting practice landings with the wind 180/10KTS. The tower offered rwy 13. The pilot requested rwy 22. After landing long and correcting… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.