# NTSB MIA98LA099: Pitts S1-S, N99PF, Zephyrhills, FL, March 11, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1998, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Zephyrhills, FL
- Coordinates: 28.259552, -82.129196 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2596&lon=-82.1292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38472/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA099

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper use of flight controls (ailerons) during a touch-and-go landing with a crosswind, resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent nose over of the airplane.  A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of total experience in kind of aircraft.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - touch-and-go - initiated, pilot in command
  - aileron - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was making a touch-and-go landing with a crosswind, and had not applied sufficient aileron for the crosswind. He lost directional control of the airplane, and it subsequently nosed over. The pilot had a total of 14.4 hours in the Pitt S1-S airplane.

## Factual narrative

On March 11, 1998, about 1020 eastern standard time, a Pitts, S1-S, N99PF, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of directional control and crashed during a touch-and-go landing at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Zephyrhills, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Zephyrhills, about 40 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he made one touch-and-go landing to runway 04. He moved over to runway 36 and completed five more touch-and-go landings. He was starting the touch-and-go portion of the sixth landing, and did not have sufficient aileron applied for the crosswind. The airplane swerved to the left, he applied right rudder, lost directional control, and the airplane nosed over inverted.

Review of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report indicates the pilot has a total of 290 hours total flight time with 14.4 hours in the  Pitt S1-S airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99PF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99PF), registered now, S/N 1-0006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pitts S1-S
- Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 0110301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1-0006
- Airframe hours: 1088
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Svein O. Sorvick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 1997, 8 hours before
- Departed: ZPH
- Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills Municipal, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 240 total, 14 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 52 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 35 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 19980311006849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980311006849A), Mar 11, 1998: Child S1SPITTS, Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. Lost control taking off in crosswind. Swerved. Hit brakes. 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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