# NTSB NYC99LA171: Guy Pitts S-1S, N2118, Norwalk, OH, July 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1999, 13:11 local (17:11 UTC) - Place: Norwalk, OH - Coordinates: 41.240013, -82.610031 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2400&lon=-82.6100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46766 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46766/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to conduct a low level aerobatic maneuver, and his subsequent loss of awareness regarding the location of trees at that level. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - aerobatics - low, pilot in command - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane struck 75-foot trees after making a low-level fly-by, which briefly included intentional inverted flight. Per 49 CFR 91.303(e), no person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight below 1,500 feet above the surface. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1999, at 1311 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Pitts S-1S, N2118, was destroyed when it collided with trees while maneuvering at Norwalk-Huron County Airport (OH21), Norwalk, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A witness, who was also an aircraft mechanic with a major airline, stated that the pilot started up the airplane, taxied it to the east end of the airport, and performed an engine check. A short time later, the airplane took off east to west, then turned left, and circled the airport. The witness then saw the airplane flying toward the west, over the ramp, and between two rows of "T"- hangars. The airplane rolled inverted "so the family could wave," then quickly returned to a normal, "upright" position. The airplane passed over the pilot's hangar, then over the grass at the end of the ramp. It banked to the right, appeared to be leveling its wings, then struck trees. The witness did not hear any strange engine noises, or notice anything "visibly wrong" with the airplane prior to its impact with trees. According to an Ohio State Police report, the airplane was flying parallel to Runway 28 at a low altitude. "The pilot rolled inverted, rolled back to wings level, and started a turn to the north." The airplane then struck tree tops with the right lower wingtip and right main landing gear. It impacted the ground, and was destroyed by fire. The report also stated that the first possible tree strike was in a 74-foot tree, and that the wreckage path continued along a northerly track for about 400 feet. An autopsy was performed on the pilot's remains by the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Coroner's Office, and toxicological testing was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to 49 CFR Part 91, Paragraph 91.303: "No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight...(e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2118](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2118-2000-03-02), registration cancelled 2000-03-02, S/N 138-H (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Guy PITTS S-1S - Registry model: [Guy-Pitts Special S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/guy-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 72202MT) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 138-H - Airframe hours: 310 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ben Hussan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1998, 21 hours before - Departed: OH21 - Airport: OH21, Norwalk-Huron Co., runway 28, 4,209 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,200 total, 90 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLE, 34 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 19990711008609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990711008609A), Jul 11, 1999: Aviat PITTSS1S, Norwalk, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft struck a tree and burst into flames, the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries, the acft was destroyed, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on… 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.