# NTSB MIA94LA120: Pitts S1-C, N16LW, Lakeland, FL, April 13, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1994, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Location: 27.9876° N, 82.0190° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKELAND LINDER INTL (LAL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9876&lon=-82.0190&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37529/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA120

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - berm
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The private pilot was landing with a right crosswind and landed to the right of the runway. The airplane collided with a berm on landing rollout, became airborne, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

## Factual narrative

On April 13, 1994, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S1-C, N16LW, registered to Linn R. Walters, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed on landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Lakeland Airport about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he was landing with a right crosswind. The airplane drifted to the right, and touched down off the right side of the runway as he was looking out the left side of the airplane. The main landing gear collided with a berm to the right of the runway. The airplane bounced, became airborne, collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude, nosed over and came to rest inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16LW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16LW), registered now, S/N 1981, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S1-C
- Registry model: [Walters Linn R PITTS S1-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/walters-linn-r-pitts-s1-c) (registry code 7221182) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 130 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Walters, Linn R.
- Registered owner: Walters,  Linn   R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1994, 10 hours before
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland  Linder  Airport, runway 9, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 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 19940413000749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940413000749A), Apr 13, 1994: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Landing in crosswind. Looking on left outside failed note right drift. Hit bounced. Collided nose down. Nosed over.

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.

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