# NTSB LAX85LA095: Pitts Special SST, N272H, Palo Alto, CA, December 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1984, 14:27 local (22:27 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.449077, -122.099472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4491&lon=-122.0995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA095

## 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
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING 3 PREVIOUS TOUCH & GO LANDINGS THE PLT NOTICED A SLIGHT TENDENCY FOR THE ACFT TO TURN RT DURING THE LANDING ROLL ROLL. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A FULL STOP LANDING. DURING THE LANDING THE PLT ALLOWED THE ACFT ROLL ONTO THE RUNWAY SHOULDER. HE SAID HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE SHOULDER WAS SOFT & MARSHY FROM THE RECENT RAINS. THE RT MAIN GEAR SANK INTO THE MUD & ACFT NOSED-UP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N272H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N272H-1990-02-16), registration cancelled 1990-02-16, S/N 711H (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS SPECIAL SST
- Registry model: [Lotero Manuel M PITTS SPECIAL SST](https://openairdocs.org/model/lotero-manuel-m-pitts-special-sst) (registry code 72202R6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 711H
- Airframe hours: 370
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gopal Ramachandran
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: PAO
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,581 total, 123 in this make and model, 1,281 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAO

## 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 19841223069329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841223069329A), Dec 23, 1984: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Swerved to right on rollout, right tire sunk in soft shoulder, violently swerved right, propeller struck the mud.

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.