# NTSB ERA25LA381: Pitts S-1T, N742MA, Danbury, CT, September 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2025, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Danbury, CT - Coordinates: 41.371534, -73.482189 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts S-1T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7220404), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts S-1T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7220404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Pitts S-1T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7220404), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Pitts S-1T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7220404), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing, and stated that during the landing rollout, while decelerating, the airplane veered to the right and ground looped. The airplane’s left wingtip contacted the runway surface during the ground loop and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N742MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N742MA), registered now, S/N 1005, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PITTS S-1T - Registry model: [Pitts S-1T](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-s-1t) (registry code 7220404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1005 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 1135 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 5, 2025, 1 hours before - Departed: DYL, Doylestown, PA - Destination: ASH, Nashua, NH - Airport: DXR, Danbury Muni, runway 08, 4,421 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2024; seat: center; flight hours: 643 total, 122 in this make and model, 578 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KDXR - METAR: KDXR 021453Z 07007KT 10SM CLR 22/11 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02220106 58008 ## 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 20250902020639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250902020639A), Sep 2, 2025: Pitts S-1T, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. On September 2, 2025 at approximately 1146 eastern time aircraft landed Danbury Municipal Airport on runway 8. On roll out aircraft veered off left side of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202328. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20076078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA381_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20075819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%20LA381-Rel.pdf 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.