- Date
- February 20, 1982, 16:50 local (Feb 21, 1982, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Morgan Hill, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8WAPitts 51
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 20, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820220000299A
- Case key
- 71764
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While performing acrobatic maneuvers the pilot noticed smokeand oil streaming back from the engine and a loss of oil pressure. He throttled back immediately and started a descent towards a vacant field. In an attempt to clear some telephone lines in his path he advanced the throttle but the engine would not respond. He collided with the lines and the air craft came to rest in the field. Engine examination revealeda ruptured flexible oil line running from the rear oil pump under the engine to the forward oil cooler.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8WA
- Reported as
- Pitts 51
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1973
- Airframe hours
- 421
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Curtis Hawks
- Registered owner
- Curtis Hawks
- Departed
- Morgan Hill, CA
- Destination
- Morgan Hill, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,087 total · 281 in this make and model · 908 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.