Pitts S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE) and Piper PA-28 mid-air collision near Santa Cruz, California, June 2, 1982
On June 2, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE) (N25PB) and Piper PA-28 (N40951), were involved in a mid-air collision near Santa Cruz, California (Skypark airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Cruz, California · Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE) S-1 (BARTO, amateur-built · all S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE)s on the register
- Registration
- N25PB · no longer on the register · serial 1-001
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N40951 · registry record · serial 7425193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE) final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING APPROACH, THE PILOT OF A HOMEBUILT PITTS AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED THE CROSSWIND, ABORTED THE LANDING AND REENTERED ON DOWNWIND. AFTER TURNING FINAL, HE SAW A PIPER PA-28, N40951, DIRECTLY AHEAD. HE MOVED THE STICK FULL FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION. HOWEVER, THE PROPELLER OF THE PITTS STRUCK THE LOWER FUSELAGE, LEFT FLAP, AND LEFT WHEEL FAIRING AND TIRE OF THE PA-28. AFTER THE COLLISION THE PILOT OF THE PITTS AIRCRAFT WENT AROUND AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PA-28 PILOT CONTINUED HIS LANDING, BUT THE PLANE SWERVED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING LANDING ROLL. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-28 REPORTED THAT HIS PLANE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND BELOW.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-28 REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FT AGL WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND BELOW BY A PITTS/SKYOTE S-1, N25PB. HE CONTINUED THE LANDING, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PIPER PA-28 VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF THE PITTS AIRCRAFT WENT AROUND AND LANDED WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PIPER PA-28 REVEALED 5 PROPELLER STRIKES ON THE LOWER FUSELAGE, 1STRIKE ON THE LEFT FLAP, AND STRIKES ON THE LEFT WHEEL FAIRING AND TIRE.
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 for the Pitts S-1 (BARTOE/SKYOTE) from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRU Santa Cruz CA at 12:15 pm
- Destination: SRU Santa Cruz CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,520 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,244 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E30 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRU Santa Cruz CA at 12:10 pm
- Destination: SRU Santa Cruz CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,520 ft by 60 ft
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.