# NTSB NYC97LA188: Jackman Pitts S-1S, N4241Z, Hammondsport, NY, September 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 1997, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Hammondsport, NY - Coordinates: 42.400806, -77.219482 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4008&lon=-77.2195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39437 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39437/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA188 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane was on final approach to the destination airport. According to the pilot, 'As I came in over the trees at the north end of the airport, I eased off on the power to almost no throttle. My plane started to settle really fast. I hit the end of the airstrip hard and I heard a snap.' The left main gear collapsed, the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that the airplane was performing 'fine.' ## Factual narrative On September 27, 1997, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Jackman Pitts S-1S, N4241Z, was substantially damaged during a hard landing to the Kolo Airstrip, Hammondsport, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from the Shannon Airport, Fredericksburg, Virginia, at 0700. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement provided to the Steuben County Sheriff's Department, the pilot stated: "As I came in over the trees at the north end of the airport, I eased off on the power to almost no throttle. My plane started to settle really fast. I hit the end of the airstrip hard and I heard a snap." The pilot stated the airplane touched down at 90 miles per hour. He felt the airplane settling and the propeller striking the ground. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted facing north. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that the airplane was performing "fine." He said the left landing gear broke at a weld. When asked if the quality of the weld played a role in the accident, the pilot said: "No. It's an experimental airplane, I know what I'm buying." The pilot reported 741 hours of total flight experience of which 92 hours were in the Pitts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4241Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4241Z-1998-04-21), registration cancelled 1998-04-21, S/N 70455 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jackman PITTS S-1S - Registry model: [Jackman Don PITTS S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/jackman-don-pitts-s-1s) (registry code 7221225) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-0455 - Airframe hours: 284 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edwin W. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 1997, 7 hours before - Departed: EZF, FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Kolo'S Airport, runway 24, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## 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: left; flight hours: 741 total, 92 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELM, 22 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 19970927047249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970927047249A), Sep 27, 1997: Aviat PITTSS1S, Hammondsport, NY, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot apparently allowed airspeed to deteriorate on short final and aircraft landed hard-tailwheel first, collapsed the right main gear and nosed over… ## Other investigations on N4241Z (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL92LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA012), Oct 19, 1991: Don Jackman Pitts S-1S (N4241Z), Franklinville, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE 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.