Pitts S-1E accident near Auburn, California, April 15, 1995
On April 15, 1995 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Pitts S-1E, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N301SH, was destroyed in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN PERFORMING A ROLL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ASSURE A SAFE COMPLETION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1995 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1E, amateur-built · all S-1Es on the register
- Registration
- N301SH · registry record · serial SB3
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OVE Oroville CA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: AUN Auburn CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from BAB, 16 miles away
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.