Pitts S-1S and Pitts S-1S accident near Reno, Nevada, September 13, 1996
On September 13, 1996 at about 4:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S-1S (N230MP) and Pitts S-1S (N15HR), were involved in the same accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno Stead airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedure to allow simultaneous landings by aircraft on the same runway.
The pilot of N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedure to allow simultaneous landings by aircraft on the same runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1996 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno Stead · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S-1S, amateur-built · all S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N230MP · registry record · serial 1001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Pitts S-1S, amateur-built · all S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N15HR · registry record · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-1S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two Pitts S-1S aircraft collided after landing on runway 26. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision. The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot also indicated before she turned she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway. Procedures in place for the air race provided for the simultaneous landing of two biplanes on the same runway to facilitate the show.
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 Pitts S-1S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two Pitts S-1S aircraft collided after landing on runway 26. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision. The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot also indicated before she turned she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway. Procedures in place for the air race provided for the simultaneous landing of two biplanes on the same runway to facilitate the show.
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-1S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 205 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,175 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from RNO, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Pitts S-1S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 570 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 LAX96LA336.