Pitts S-1A accident near Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, October 13, 2000
On October 13, 2000 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Pitts S-1A, registered N800AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania (Pocono Mountains airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2000 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania · Pocono Mountains · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1A · all S-1As on the register
- Registration
- N800AS · no longer on the register · serial 1-0046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was informed by UNICOM that Runway 23 was in use. During landing roll out on Runway 23, the tail-wheeled airplane encountered a gust of wind and was pushed to the left side of the runway. The pilot applied full power and aborted the landing. As the airplane became airborne, the wind continued to push the airplane to the left edge of the 100-foot wide, 4,000-foot long runway. The right wing then struck a runway light, and the airplane cartwheeled several times before coming to rest on the left side of the runway. The airport's automated surface observation system (ASOS) reported that the winds were from 300 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots, and were variable between 260 and 330 degrees. The pilot did not obtain the ASOS information prior to landing. Examination of the airplane revealed there were no mechanical malfunctions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,158 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 1,078 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1999; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSV Sullivan NY at 2:20 pm
- Destination: MPO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from MPO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.