Pitts S-1S accident near Livermore, California, July 12, 1995
On July 12, 1995 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Pitts S-1S, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N715L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Municipal 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 failure to maintain runway alignment and subsequent collision with some bales of hay.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1995 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1S, amateur-built · all S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N715L · registry record · serial 5-71
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A NORMAL THREE-POINT LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED IN HER REPORT THAT SHE APPLIED HARD RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A FURROW THAT PARALLELS THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SOME TIGHTLY PACKED, HEAVY BALES OF HAY. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES AND FLIGHT CONTROLS FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES, NOR DID THE PILOT REPORT ANY TO THE FAA AFTERWARDS. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE AIRCRAFT GOT AWAY FROM HER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,786 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,650 as pilot in command; 483 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1995; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVK at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 5,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from LVK
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.