# NTSB DEN04LA037: Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S, N362JW, Crawford, CO, January 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 2004, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Crawford, CO
- Coordinates: 38.7075, -107.643608
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7075&lon=-107.6436&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58600
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58600/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA037

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his failure to maintain clearance from the snow bank during the landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the snow bank.

## 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)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot had entered a traffic pattern for touch and go landings. He reported a snowplow had made a path approximately 30 feet wide, with embankments on both sides. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the right. The right wheel caught in the snow and the airplane nosed over and slid approximately 30 to 40 feet before rolling upright again, substantially damaging the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On January 11, 2004, at approximately 1230 mountain standard time, an Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S, N362JW, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing roll at Crawford Airport (99V), Crawford, Colorado. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed at approximately 1130.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he had entered the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landings on runway 07. He stated that a snowplow had made a path approximately 30 feet wide, with snow embankments on both sides of the runway. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the right. The right wheel caught in the snow and the airplane nosed over and slid approximately 30 to 40 feet before rolling upright again. The right wing tip and aileron were crushed; the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer bent and the rudder and vertical stabilizer were crushed. The pilot stated "no mechanical abnormalities [were] noted prior to [the] accident." An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N362JW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: I-0056
- Airframe hours: 961
- Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2003, 17 hours before
- Departed: 99V, Crawford, CO
- Airport: 99V, Crawford, runway 7, 5,100 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 26, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 891 total, 317 in this make and model, 803 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: MTJ, 16 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 20040111000319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040111000319A), Jan 11, 2004: Amtr PITTSSPECS1S, Crawford, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On landing at the Crawford, Colorado airport (99V) the right main gear wheel came into contact with the plowed snow bank on the right side of the runway.…

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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