Aviation Crash Map

Pitts S-1E N301SH

15 April 1995 · Auburn, California, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 15 April 1995 at about 17:40 local time, a Pitts S-1E registered N301SH was involved in an accident near Auburn, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 17:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Auburn, California, United States
Nearest airport
Auburn Muni (AUN)
Coordinates
39.0000, -121.0906
Aircraft
Pitts S-1E
Registration
N301SH
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Oroville → Auburn
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX95LA162

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 1 0 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN PERFORMING A ROLL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ASSURE A SAFE COMPLETION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED TWO AIRPLANES FLYING IN A LOOSE FORMATION. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS BELOW THE FIRST AIRPLANE AND WAS FLYING AT TREETOP LEVEL 'CORKSCREWING THROUGH THE AIR.' IT THEN ENTERED INTO A ROLL MANEUVER AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE PILOT HAD BEEN CITED PREVIOUSLY BY THE FAA FOR VIOLATING MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDES, AND CARELESS OR RECKLESS OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Pitts S-1E accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
17 Nov 1990 Pitts S-1E
N9QB
Carson City, Nevada, United States Brown, Stanley H. Minor injuries -
31 May 1981 Pitts S-1E
N45WA
Medina, Ohio, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
20 Sep 1980 Pitts S-1E
N9QB
Warm Spgs Vly, Nevada, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
16 May 1976 Pitts S-1E
N2JM
Falcon, Colorado, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -

All 5 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jun 1995 Ed Bergreen KIS
N62TW
San Leandro, California, United States - Minor injuries -
23 Jun 1995 Spreuer COZY
N84CZ
Oceanside, California, United States - No injuries -
26 Jun 1995 Cessna 182P
N9148M
Susanville, California, United States - No injuries -
28 Jun 1995 Cessna 150M
N63264
Turlock, California, United States - Minor injuries -
24 Jun 1995 Piper PA-28-181
N6911P
Palm Springs, California, United States Alan L. Kaplan No injuries -
24 Jun 1995 Piper PA-34-200
N56484
Avalon, California, United States Aero Club No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States