Pitts S1 N31WK
19 January 2019 · Torrance, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 19 January 2019 at about 16:50 local time, a Pitts S1 registered N31WK was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Torrance, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Zamperini Field (TOA)
- Coordinates
- 33.8014, -118.3419
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1
- Registration
- N31WK
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1995
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Torrance → Torrance
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR19TA068
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The biplane pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while taxing, which resulted in a ground collision.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane had landed and was taxiing to his hangar while monitoring the control tower frequency. The pilot did not perform S-turns during his taxi and was not informed of another airplane in his proximity. The pilot of a low-wing airplane was parked near a movement boundary area. He watched the biplane taxi down the taxiway without performing S-turns. The pilot of the low-wing airplane had previously contacted the ground controller and was not informed of the taxiing biplane. The biplane impacted the low-wing airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the low-wing airplane and minor damage to the biplane. The pilot of the biplane stated that he had limited forward visibility, and he may have prevented the accident had he made more S-turns, and if both airplanes had been on the same frequency at the time of the collision. Both pilots stated that there were no mechanical problems with their respective airplanes.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitts S1 T | N31WK | - | Minor |
| Rutan VARIEZE NO SERIES | N27GM | - | Substantial |
Other Pitts S1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 2019 | Pitts S1 | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 2019 | Pitts S1 | Monument Valley, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2020 | Pitts S1 | Kulmbach, Germany | Plane Fun Inc Tr Trustee | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Jul 2022 | Pitts S1 | Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2024 | Pitts S1 | Santa Paula, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 2000 | Pitts S1-T | Vero Beach, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 2019 | Wheeler EXPRESS SERIES 2000 | Camarillo, California, United States | N43FD Airplane LLC. | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Feb 2019 | Cessna 402 | Montague, California, United States | Redding Aero Enterprises Inc | No injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Boeing 737 | SFO International Airport, California, United States | United Air Lines Inc | No injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 2019 | Piper PA28R | Shelter Cove, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Mar 2019 | North American T28 | Compton, California, United States | Tomorrows Aeronautical Museum | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 May 2019 | Grumman G164 | Pleasant Grove, California, United States | Moe's Crop Dusting Service Inc. | Fatal | 2 |