# NTSB NYC91LA082: Latham Pitts Special S-1C, N98RL, Glens Falls, NY, March 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1991, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Glens Falls, NY
- Coordinates: 43.309314, -73.640579 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3093&lon=-73.6406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36884/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA082

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE GROUND DUE TO THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VARIABLE WIND.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT FLEW FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES.  WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE WIND SOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 350 DEGREES.  HE RECEIVED A UNICOM ADVISORY THAT THE FAVORED RUNWAY WAS 01.  THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THE LEFT WING RAISED AND THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER.  THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO VEER LEFT AND TIP TO THE RIGHT DESPITE COUNTER CONTROLS.  THE RIGHT WING HIT, THEN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER.  AFTER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER THE WIND SOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEGREES GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS.  THE MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE PITTS SPECIAL IS TWENTY-THREE KNOTS.  BETWEEN 1340 TO 1540 FREQUENT MODERATE AND ISOLATED SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 8000 FEET WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR WAS FORECAST ON A LINE FROM MONTREAL TO NANTUCKET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N98RL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LATHAM PITTS SPECIAL S-1C (PITTS SPEC)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 645H
- Airframe hours: 1648
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael J. Smith
- Registered owner: Michael J. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1990, 57 hours before
- Departed: GFL, GLENS FALLS, NY
- Airport: GFL, Warren County, runway 1, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19910305004179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910305004179A), Mar 5, 1991: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C, Glens Falls, NY, Destroyed. Nosed over on landing roll. Blamed a windshift to tailwind on landing.

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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