# NTSB NYC95LA225: Snyded Pitts S1E, N27920, Somers, NY, September 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1995, 14:36 local (18:36 UTC) - Place: Somers, NY - Coordinates: 41.330131, -73.690643 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3301&lon=-73.6906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 minor; on the ground: 2 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA225 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, WHICH RESULTED HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWER LINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,static - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED, 'WHILE I WAS FLYING OVER WESTCHESTER, I SAW THE WATER AND WENT DOWN TO GET A CLOSER LOOK....I HEARD A LOUD BANG, LIKE A HAMMER. I LOOKED OVER AT MY WING AND NOTICED DAMAGE....I PUT THE PLANE DOWN ON THE WATER....I EXPERIENCED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WHILE I WAS FLYING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIT THE PLANE.' THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, 'DURING A DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBJECT, SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED TO BE A POWER LINE.' ADDITIONALLY, AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, A 46000 VOLT, 3/4 INCH DIAMETER POWER LINE HAD SEPARATED AND HAD DROPPED IN A RESERVOIR. AS A RESULT OF THE POWER LINE STRIKING THE WATER, THREE PERSONS WERE EJECTED FROM THEIR BOAT. TWO OF THE PERSONS DID NOT SURVIVE. THE SURVIVOR, WHO SWAM ASHORE, REPORTED HE FELT ELECTRICAL SHOCKS THROUGHOUT HIS BODY WHILE HE WAS IN THE WATER. ACCORDING TO THE SURVIVOR, HE NOTICED THE NON-SURVIVORS SWIMMING TOWARD HIM WITH 'WAVES OF BLUE ELECTRICITY IN THE WATER.' POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1995, about 1436 eastern daylight time, a Snyded Pitts-S1E, N27920, was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines during a descent near Somers, New York. The pilot and one person in a boat received minor injuries. Two occupants of the boat were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Danbury, Connecticut about 1430, destined for Morristown, New Jersey. There was no flight plan for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a statement provided to the New York State Police, the pilot stated: ... While I was flying over Westchester, I saw the water and went down to get a closer look, I took the plane down to about 500 to 1000 feet. While flying at that altitude, which is an estimate, I wasn't looking at the altimeter, I heard a loud bang, like a hammer. I looked over at my wing and noticed damage. At that point I thought that I might be able to keep [the airplane] up, however, I soon noticed that the plane wasn't responding. I decided that I would have to put the plane down. I put the plane down on the water....I experienced no mechanical problems while I was flying, and I don't know what hit the plane. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot further stated: ...During a descent the aircraft struck an object, subsequently confirmed to be a power line. Damage was immediately noted to the top right wing and the aircraft tried to roll to the right. I compensated for the roll and felt the aircraft shudder. I made an emergency landing in a body of water.... Postaccident examination by the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator and Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the right upper wing was separated from the main fuselage attachment point at the leading edge. Approximately 3 feet outboard from the main attachment point, the right upper wing had scrape marks that extended outboard and aft about 6 inches. Approximately 3 feet outboard from the main attachment point, the right upper wing fabric was torn about 1 foot in a chordwise direction. The two bladed propeller had gouges on each blade that were symmetrical. No preimpact anomalies were found with the airframe or engine. Additionally, at the accident scene, a 46000 volt, 3/4 inch diameter power line was found separated in a reservoir. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27920](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27920-1997-08-05), registration cancelled 1997-08-05, S/N 70491 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SNYDED PITTS S1E - Registry model: [Snyded Donald C JR PITTS SIE](https://openairdocs.org/model/snyded-donald-c-jr-pitts-sie) (registry code 7221016) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1995, 4 hours before - Departed: DXR, DANBURY, CT - Destination: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,700 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,450 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HPN, 7 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 19950924029949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950924029949A), Sep 24, 1995: Ayres S2*, Somers, NY, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Low over water heard bang. Saw wing damage. Struck power line prior ditching. 2 boaters electracuted by power line. 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.