# NTSB LAX02LA156: Ham Pitts S-1C, N1PH, Borrego Springs, CA, May 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2002, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Borrego Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.258888, -116.321113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2589&lon=-116.3211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54697 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54697/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54697 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA156 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during landing rollout resulting in a ground loop/swerve and a nose over. The soft terrain was a factor. ## 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 - aircraft control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The tail wheel equipped airplane veered off runway 7 and nosed over after encountering soft soil while landing. The pilot was interviewed by telephone and reported that the landing was normal. Near the end of the landing roll on runway 7, the aircraft veered left off the runway. He said that he was unable to correct the alignment before the airplane departed the paved runway surface and it nosed over after encountering soft desert-like soil. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. The airport manager reported the sky was clear and the winds were calm at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2002, at 1050 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Ham Pitts S-1C, N1PH, veered off runway 7 and nosed over after encountering soft soil while landing at the Borrego Springs, California, airport. The airplane, operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm wind conditions. The cross-country personal flight originated at Santa Ana, California, at 1000, and was destined for Borrego Springs. The pilot was interviewed by telephone and reported that the landing was normal. Near the end of the landing roll on runway 7, the aircraft veered left off the runway. He said that he was unable to correct the alignment before the airplane departed the paved runway surface and it nosed over after encountering soft desert-like soil. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. Through a written statement given by the pilot on May 23, 2002, he stated that as the aircraft veered left he applied full right rudder and brake; however, the aircraft continued into a ground loop. The ground loop caused him to go off of the runway where the aircraft hit the soft sand. The airport manager reported that she saw the airplane touch down on runway 7, and that the landing appeared normal. The airplane was near the end of the ground roll at a slow speed when it veered off the pavement and nosed over. The manager noted that the wings and tail sustained damage. At the time of the accident, the sky was clear and the winds were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1PH-2005-06-20), registration cancelled 2005-06-20, S/N 168H, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ham Pitts S-1C - Registry model: [Ham PITTS SPECIAL S-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ham-pitts-special-s-1c) (registry code 7221123) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 168H - Airframe hours: 1128 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey Yeskin - Registered owner: Clark Foster - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Destination: L08, BORREGO SPRINGS, CA - Airport: L08, Borrego Valley, runway 7, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 25, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 347 total, 24 in this make and model, 290 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KTRM, 25 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 20020511010709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511010709A), May 11, 2002: Amtr PITTSS1C, Borrego Springs, CA, No damage. (-23) During landing roll at Borrego Springs airport, California, the pilot experienced an uncontrollable veer to the left, then the airplane nose gear… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54697. 708 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Phone Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Phone%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.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.