N9060N Pitts Special S-1C accident

NTSB LAX96LA020 · 1995-10-24 · SAN CARLOS, CA · near SQL

Summary

The pilot reported that he touched down just past the tower (midfield on the 2,600-foot-long runway) and realized that he would be unable to stop before reaching the end of the runway. He applied full throttle but did not get an immediate response. After some delay he heard the engine accelerate, but he was unable to avoid striking an 8-foot-high pile of rocks about 200 feet from the end of the runway. After striking the rocks, the aircraft descended until impacting the water in an inverted attitude about 800 feet from the end of the runway. The aircraft and engine were examined and no discrepancies were found.

Full narrative

On October 24, 1995, at 0806 hours Pacific daylight time, a Pitts Special S-1C, N9060N, collided with rocks and water during a go-around at San Carlos airport, San Carlos, California. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was returning from a local personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated in San Carlos at 0745. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

The certificated private pilot reported that he touched down just past the tower (midfield on the 2,600-foot-long runway), and realized that he would be unable to stop before reaching the end of the runway. He applied full throttle but did not get an immediate response. After some delay he heard the engine accelerate, but he was unable to avoid striking an 8-foot-high pile of rocks about 200 feet from the end of the runway. After striking the rocks, the aircraft descended until impacting the water in an inverted attitude about 800 feet from the end of the runway.

The pilot reported that he had difficulty in egressing the aircraft due to his parachute snagging on the canopy.

The aircraft and engine were examined by FAA inspectors from the San Jose, California, Flight Standards District Office. No discrepancies were found.

Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged landing approach, failure to achieve the proper touchdown point, and his delayed decision to abort the landing. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 10
Wind direction: 0
Temperature (F): 50
Nearest airport: SAN CARLOS
Distance from field: 0.0
Airport elevation: 2

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N9060N	PITTS SPECIAL	S-1C	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	340	Cruise
2	220	Cruise
3	230	Cruise

Findings

Finding
24581	cause
24531	cause
24504	cause
20200