Amateur-built Pitts S1S accident near Livermore, California, July 13, 2003
On July 13, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Pitts S1S, registered N25SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pitts S1S
- Registration
- N25SF · registry record · serial MLM-001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped during the landing roll. After practicing touch-and-go's at another airport, the pilot returned for landing. The touchdown was normal except for a "slight bounce." During the roll out, the left wing lifted and the airplane turned slightly to the left. The pilot applied "rudder correction with [the] stick full back." The airplane continued to turn left and he attempted differential braking; however, the airplane continued to turn left. The airplane came to rest facing about 90 degrees left of the runway heading. The right wing sustained a broken spar and broken ribs, and the right landing gear was bent during the turn. In a post accident examination, all flight controls functioned properly and no preimpact anomalies were found. The winds reported at 0953 were 240 degree at 6 knots. The winds reported at 1053 were 230 degrees at 7 knots.
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: 277 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 Ser (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLVK Livermore CA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KLVK
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.