Latham PITTS SPECIAL S-1C N98RL
5 March 1991 · Glens Falls, New York, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 5 March 1991 at about 18:30 local time, a Latham PITTS SPECIAL S-1C registered N98RL, operated by Michael J. Smith, was involved in an accident near Glens Falls, New York, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Glens Falls, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Warren County (GFL)
- Coordinates
- 43.3093, -73.6406
- Aircraft
- Latham PITTS SPECIAL S-1C
- Registration
- N98RL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Michael J. Smith
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Glens Falls → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA082
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
A LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE GROUND DUE TO THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VARIABLE WIND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT FLEW FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE WIND SOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 350 DEGREES. HE RECEIVED A UNICOM ADVISORY THAT THE FAVORED RUNWAY WAS 01. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THE LEFT WING RAISED AND THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO VEER LEFT AND TIP TO THE RIGHT DESPITE COUNTER CONTROLS. THE RIGHT WING HIT, THEN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. AFTER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER THE WIND SOCK SHOWED THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEGREES GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. THE MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE PITTS SPECIAL IS TWENTY-THREE KNOTS. BETWEEN 1340 TO 1540 FREQUENT MODERATE AND ISOLATED SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 8000 FEET WITH LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR WAS FORECAST ON A LINE FROM MONTREAL TO NANTUCKET.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1991 | Maule M6-235 | Arcade, New York, United States | Haley, Lawrence E. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172 | Clarence Center, New York, United States | Augusta Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Rhinebeck, New York, United States | Catskill Transportation | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Robinson R-22B | White Plains, New York, United States | Engle Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1991 | Cessna 152 | Springwater, New York, United States | State Aerial Farm Statistics | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1991 | Cessna 152 | Bear Mountain, New York, United States | Control Arrow, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |