# NTSB LAX00LA315: Pitts S1S, N9PJ, Westminister, CA, August 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2000, 18:50 local (Aug 28, 2000, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Westminister, CA - Location: 33.7523° N, 117.9940° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westminster, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7523&lon=-117.9940&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50130/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA315 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Pitts misjudged the clearance while maneuvering under the Cessna. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Midair collision, maneuvering - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The airplanes collided in-flight as the Pitts maneuvered from behind to in front of the Cessna. The pilots stated they were flying each other's airplane. The pilots established radio and visual contact with each other. The Pitts assumed a trail position behind the Cessna. The Pitts varied its distance and position relative to the Cessna. Cruise altitude was about 1,000 feet. The Cessna turned left and began a gradual climb to 1,500 feet. About 1,400 feet, the Pitts pilot advised the Cessna pilot to hold still and the Cessna pilot acknowledged. The Cessna pilot leveled off and held his course. He knew from their years of flying together that the Pitts pilot would come below him. As the Pitts maneuvered from behind to in front of the Cessna, the Cessna's propeller severed the top half of the Pitts' vertical stabilizer and rudder. The Cessna's damaged propeller set up a vibration. The Pitts pilot maintained control of his airplane. The pilots discussed their options and elected to divert to Fullerton. They advised the tower of their situation and asked for emergency equipment to be on hand. The Cessna pilot landed first, and the Pitts pilot evaluated the amount of control available. After the emergency equipment arrived, the Pitts landed uneventfully. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On August 27, 2000, about 1850 hours Pacific daylight time, a Pitts S1S, N9PJ, sustained substantial damage when it collided in-flight with a Cessna 172RG, N6225R, near Westminster, California. Both airplanes were maneuvering during a formation flight when the collision occurred. Both airplanes made successful landings at the Fullerton, California, airport following the collision. Their respective owners were operating the airplanes under 14 CFR Part 91. The Pitts S1S sustained substantial damage to the empennage, while the Cessna 172RG incurred minor propeller damage. The commercial pilots, the sole occupants of their respective airplanes, were not injured. The personal flights departed Dougherty Field, Long Beach, California, en route to the Cable Airport, Upland, California, about 1840. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans had been filed. The pilots stated they were flying each other's airplane. The Pitts departed first, and the Cessna followed. Once over the coastline and clear of the Long Beach airport traffic area, they established radio and visual contact with each other. The Pitts circled and assumed a trail position behind the Cessna. The Pitts pilot said he varied his distance and position relative to the Cessna. Cruise altitude was about 1,000 feet. As they approached the Huntington Beach Pier, the Cessna turned left toward Disneyland and began a gradual climb to 1,500 feet. About 1,400 feet, the Pitts pilot advised the Cessna pilot to hold still and the Cessna pilot acknowledged. The Cessna pilot leveled off and held his course. He knew from their years of flying together that the Pitts pilot would come below him. As the Pitts maneuvered from behind to in front of the Cessna, the Cessna's propeller severed the top half of the Pitts' vertical stabilizer and rudder. The Cessna's damaged propeller set up a vibration. The Pitts pilot maintained control of his airplane. The pilots discussed their options and elected to divert to Fullerton. They advised the tower of their situation and asked for emergency equipment to be on hand. The Cessna landed first, and the Pitts pilot evaluated the amount of control available. After the emergency equipment arrived, the Pitts landed uneventfully. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9PJ-2004-02-03), registration cancelled 2004-02-03, S/N 1-0037, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts S1S - Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 0110301) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1-0037 - Airframe hours: 904 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Martin W. Kusch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, January 1, 2000, 28 hours before - Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA - Destination: CCB, UPLAND, CA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6225R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6225R), registered now, S/N 172RG0122, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0122 - Airframe hours: 3201 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F16A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael F. Hartman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1999, 85 hours before - Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA - Destination: CCB, UPLAND, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9PJ; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,800 total, 39 in this make and model, 5,690 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N6225R; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,919 total, 132 in this make and model, 1,834 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 158 °F, dew point 145 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FUL, 5 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 20000827028721A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000827028721A), Aug 27, 2000: Amtr PITTSSPECS1S, Westmister, CA, No damage. (-23) Two a/c flying in formation collided in the air. A Cessna 172 rg was the lead a/c. a pitts S1-S was flying in trail. The pilot of the pitts S1-S was… - [Accident 20000827028722A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000827028722A), Aug 27, 2000: Cessna 172RG, Westminster, CA, Minor damage. (-23)Two aircraft flying on formation collided in the air. A Cessna 172RG was the lead aircraft. A pitts S1-S was flying trail. The pilot of the pitts S1-S was… 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.