Aerotek Pitts S-2A accident near Tracy, California, May 1, 2005
On May 1, 2005 at about 7:41 pm local time, a Aerotek Pitts S-2A, registered N5300V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California (Tracy Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2005 · about 7:41 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · Tracy Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek Pitts S-2A · all Pitts S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N5300V · registry record · serial 2262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the pilot lost directional control, ground looped, and nosed over. The pilot stated that he departed the airport to go to the practice area. Upon returning to the airport, he used a slipping final for visibility, and to correct for a crosswind. When the wheels touched down, the airplane began to deviate left of center. The pilot corrected to the right, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane crossed to the right side of runway. The prop struck the runway and the airplane slowly nosed over. The pilot then turned off the fuel, master switch, and magnetos. Both occupants exited from the inverted airplane by sliding the canopy open. The closest official weather observation station was located 15 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the accident site and was reporting winds variable at 06 knots. The pilot reported that the winds at the airport were from 280 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,582 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,559 as pilot in command; 428 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-AIE (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Team Barf LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KTCY Tracy CA at 11:50 am
- Destination: KTCY Tracy CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,680 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KSCK, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX05CA153.