Pitts S-2A N5301W

Summary

On 1 September 2003 at about 18:15 local time, a Pitts S-2A registered N5301W was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 September 2003 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsboro, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark (7S3)

Coordinates

45.4167, -122.9333

Aircraft

Pitts S-2A

Registration

N5301W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Independence → Hillsboro

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA182

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper distance and altitude while on final approach which led to touching down short of the runway. The pilot's restricted visual lookout was a factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that due to the aircraft's configuration, she was unable to see the runway while on short final and in the flare. The pilot intended to land as close to the numbers as possible. The aircraft touched down short of the runway on the grassy embankment that descends below the runway elevation. The aircraft bounced onto the runway, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on its belly to a stop. A post-crash fire consumed the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.