Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S and Boeing A75N1 (PT17) accident near Indiantown, Florida, October 21, 2000
On October 21, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S (N56JP) and Boeing A75N1 (PT17) (N49713), were involved in the same accident near Indiantown, Florida (Indiantown 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 failure of the pilot of N56JP, during landing rollout, to see and avoid N49713, who was turning off the runway after landing from the opposite direction, resulting in the 2 aircraft colliding on the runway.
The failure of the pilot of N56JP, during landing rollout, to see and avoid N49713, who was turning off the runway after landing from the opposite direction, resulting in the 2 aircraft colliding on the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Indiantown, Florida · Indiantown · 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
- Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S PITTS SPEC
- Registration
- N56JP · registry record · serial 101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing A75N1 (PT17) A75N1 (PT1 · all A75N1 (PT17)s on the register
- Registration
- N49713 · registry record · serial 75-4615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N56JP stated he transmitted his intentions on the Unicom frequency and heard aircraft from 2 other local airports transmitting on the frequency. He elected to use runway 13. During landing rollout, at about 30 mph, he observed N49173 forward and to the right. His lower right wing contacted the right wing of N49173. The pilot of N49173 stated he also called on the Unicom frequency and when he did not get a reply, he elected to land on runway 31. While turning off the runway after landing, N56JP collided with his right wing.
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 Boeing A75N1 (PT17) final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N56JP stated he transmitted his intentions on the Unicom frequency and heard aircraft from 2 other local airports transmitting on the frequency. He elected to use runway 13. During landing rollout, at about 30 mph, he observed N49173 forward and to the right. His lower right wing contacted the right wing of N49173. The pilot of N49173 stated he also called on the Unicom frequency and when he did not get a reply, he elected to land on runway 31. While turning off the runway after landing, N56JP collided with his right wing.
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 amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 425 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 337 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 693 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2000; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X58 at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,300 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from SUA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing A75N1 (PT17) from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,139 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,736 as pilot in command; 704 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,579 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2000; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X58 at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,300 ft by 250 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.