MIA01LA010

NTSB accident investigation · Jim Price Pitts Special S · Indiantown, FL · October 21, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 21, 2000, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
Place
Indiantown, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N56JPJim Price Pitts Special SN49713Boeing A75N1 (PT17)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 17, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
50511

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the pilot of N56JP, during landing rollout, to see and avoid N49713, who was turning off the runway after landing from the opposite direction, resulting in the 2 aircraft colliding on the runway.

The failure of the pilot of N56JP, during landing rollout, to see and avoid N49713, who was turning off the runway after landing from the opposite direction, resulting in the 2 aircraft colliding on the runway.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Miscellaneous/otherLanding - roll
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The pilot of N56JP stated he transmitted his intentions on the Unicom frequency and heard aircraft from 2 other local airports transmitting on the frequency. He elected to use runway 13. During landing rollout, at about 30 mph, he observed N49173 forward and to the right. His lower right wing contacted the right wing of N49173. The pilot of N49173 stated he also called on the Unicom frequency and when he did not get a reply, he elected to land on runway 31. While turning off the runway after landing, N56JP collided with his right wing.

The pilot of N56JP stated he transmitted his intentions on the Unicom frequency and heard aircraft from 2 other local airports transmitting on the frequency. He elected to use runway 13. During landing rollout, at about 30 mph, he observed N49173 forward and to the right. His lower right wing contacted the right wing of N49173. The pilot of N49173 stated he also called on the Unicom frequency and when he did not get a reply, he elected to land on runway 31. While turning off the runway after landing, N56JP collided with his right wing.

Factual narrative

Same as MIA01LA010A.

On October 21, 2000, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Jim Price Pitts Special S, N56JP, registered to several individuals, and a Boeing A75N1 (PT17), N49713, registered to an individual, collided during landing rollout at Indiantown Airport, Indiantown, Florida, while on Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plans were filed for either flight. Both aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilots on both aircraft were not injured. N56JP departed from Indiantown, the same day, about 1000. N49173 departed from Indiantown, the same day, about 0930.

The pilot of N56JP stated that after departing from Indiantown Airport, he flew around the local area. After about 30 minutes, he returned to Indiantown Airport for landing. The wind was from the northeast and he elected to land on runway 13. He announced is intention on the Unicom radio frequency, and there was a lot of transmissions on the frequencies from pilots at two other local airports. During landing rollout, at about 30 mph, he saw N49173, to the right and immediately forward. He attempted to veer left an collided with lower right wing of N49173. Both airplanes then taxied to the ramp.

The pilot of N49713 stated that after departing from Indiantown Airport, he flew around the local area. After about 55 minutes, he return to Indiantown Airport for landing. He called on the Unicom frequency, requesting traffic, but did not get a response. He crossed over the airport at 1,500 feet and observed for traffic. He saw none. The wind was out of the northeast, and he elected to land on runway 31. He made radio calls while entering the pattern, downwind, base, and on final approach. After landing, he was turning off the runway, and was about 45 degrees to the runway, when N56JP collided with the lower right wing of his aircraft.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N56JP
Reported as
Jim Price Pitts Special S (PITTS SPEC)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
101
Airframe hours
693
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-B4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Gabriel A. Ferrer
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 25, 2000 · 39 hours before
Departed
X58
Airport
X58 · Indiantown, runway 13, 6,300 × 250 ft, grass/turf
Registration
N49713
Reported as
Boeing A75N1 (PT17) (A75N1 (PT1)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
75-4615
Airframe hours
3,579
Engine
Continental W-670-6A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Curtis A. Ross
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 27, 2000 · 5 hours before
Departed
X58
Airport
X58 · Indiantown, runway 31, 6,300 × 250 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N56JP
Age
54
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
425 total · 67 in this make and model · 337 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N49713
Age
63
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
4,139 total · 51 in this make and model · 2,736 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft broken
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SUA, 15 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.