# NTSB LAX98LA077: Pitts S1, N28K, Prescott, AZ, January 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 1998, 09:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.619358, -112.420852 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6194&lon=-112.4209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot performed a short approach with a long landing to minimize the taxi time and to aid in the flow of traffic at the airport. He stated that as he approached the turn off to the taxiway, the nose began to drift to the right. The pilot tried to correct for the drift by first adding left rudder then by applying left brake, all to no avail. The aircraft turned off the runway and ground looped. The wind conditions at the time were calm. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 1998, at 0955 hours mountain standard time, a Pitts S1, N28K, ground looped during the landing roll at the Prescott, Arizona, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The aircraft departed Prescott at 0930 for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and included calm wind conditions. The pilot stated that he performed a short approach and a long landing on runway 21L to minimize the taxi distance. As he was approaching the turn off to the taxiway, the nose started to drift right in the direction of the turn off. He said he attempted to stop the drift with left rudder, with no effect. He stated that the slow turn increased in rate and he applied left brake, but to no avail. The airplane continued it's turn to approximately 45 to 60 degrees off the runway heading, where the airplane tilted left and the left wing tip struck the ground. A review of the pilot's flight time as shown in his report noted that he had approximately 11.5 hours of flight time in this make and model of airplane. The special surface weather observation taken by the air traffic control tower immediately after the accident reported calm wind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28K), registered now, S/N 1, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts S1 - Registry model: [Kulp-Pitts Special 1966](https://openairdocs.org/model/kulp-pitts-special-1966) (registry code 72202EY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 313 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bob Sweginnis - Registered owner: Mike Corradi & Bob Sweginnis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1997, 33 hours before - Airport: PRC, Prescott-Love Field, runway 21, 7,616 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,280 total, 12 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 1 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 19980125000549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980125000549A), Jan 25, 1998: Child S1PITTS, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. (.4)On janary 25, 1998, at 0955 hours mountain standard time a pitts S1, N28K, ground looped during the landing roll at the Prescott, Arizona, airport. The… ## Other investigations on N28K (3) 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. - [NTSB CHI78DA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DA062), Aug 13, 1978: Pitts Spcl 1 (N28K), Flat Rock, MI, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI74FEC04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEC04), Jul 23, 1973: Kulp-Pitts S-1C (N28K), Utica, MI, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI71FBQ20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBQ20), Oct 11, 1970: Pitts SC (N28K), Decatur, IL, substantial damage 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.