# NTSB FTW88LA079: Aerotek Pitts S-2A, N31441, La Porte, TX, March 12, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1988, 17:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: La Porte, TX - Coordinates: 29.659051, -95.039588 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6591&lon=-95.0396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 22623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA079 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - aircraft parked/standing - visual lookout - inadequate, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A PITTS S-2A TAXING FROM LANDING COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150 THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY WAITING AS #2 FOR TAKEOFF. THE PITTS CFI SAID THE DUEL STUDENT, A PRIVATE PLT, WAS TAXING THE PITTS FROM THE REAR SEAT. THE CESSNA WAS SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS DURING 'S' TURNS AS THE PITTS APPROACHED IT FROM BEHIND. A THIRD ACFT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CESSNA ON THE TAXIWAY AND WAS NOT SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS. THE THIRD ACFT ANNOUNCED ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT IT WAS TAXING ONTO THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF AND THE PITTS PLTS THOUGHT THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CESSNA. THEY CONTINUED TO TAXI, THINKING THE CESSNA HAD MOVED ONTO THE RWY, AND THE PROP OF THE PITTS STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A PITTS S-2A TAXIING FROM LANDING COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150 THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY WAITING AS #2 FOR TAKEOFF. THE PITTS CFI SAID THE DUAL STUDENT, A PRIVATE PLT, WAS TAXIING THE PITTS FROM THE REAR SEAT. THE CESSNA WAS SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS DURING 'S' TURNS AS THE PITTS APPROACHED IT FROM BEHIND. A THIRD ACFT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CESSNA ON THE TAXIWAY AND WAS NOT SEEN BY THE PITTS PLTS. THE THIRD ACFT ANNOUNCED ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT IT WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF AND THE PITTS PLTS THOUGHT THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CESSNA. THEY CONTINUED TO TAXI, THINKING THE CESSNA HAD MOVED ONTO THE RWY, AND THE PROP OF THE PITTS STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N31441 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AEROTEK PITTS S-2A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2172 - Airframe hours: 1317 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: D & E Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1987, 71 hours before - Departed: T41 - Destination: T41 - Airport: T41, La Porte Muni, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N7806Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7806Z), registered now, S/N 15059906, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150C - Registry model: [Cessna 150C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150c) (registry code 2071808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059906 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Best Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: T41 - Airport: T41, La Porte Muni, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N31441; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,025 total, 52 in this make and model, 870 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N7806Z; age 37; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HOU, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19880312005271A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880312005271A), Mar 12, 1988: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, La Porte, TX, Minor damage. Taxied into tail of a 150 N7806Z that was stopped on taxiway. Vision restricted by nose of aircraft. - [Accident 19880312005272A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880312005272A), Mar 12, 1988: Cessna 150C, La Porte, TX, Substantial damage. While holding on taxiway empannage was struck by prop of a taxiing pitts N31441. Pitts pilot beleived area clear. 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.