Pitts S1C accident near Salem, Ohio, May 7, 1997
On May 7, 1997 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Pitts S1C, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N12073, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Ohio (Salem Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial takeoff climb. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane, and the gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1997 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Ohio · Salem Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1C, amateur-built · all S1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N12073 · no longer on the register · serial DEC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left, and the pilot counteracted with right rudder. The airplane's left wing then dropped, and the pilot rotated at 70 knots to avoid a wing strike. As the airplane became airborne, it rolled inverted to the left. The pilot applied full forward elevator; however, the airplane settled and impacted the ground. The pilot had 1 hour in make and model, and he reported that the crosswind conditions and his lack of experience in make and model contributed to the accident. About 25 miles west at Akron, OH, the 1251 EDT wind was from 010 degrees at 11 gusting 26 knots.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,926 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1,450 as pilot in command; 744 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1997; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 38D at 3:30 pm
- Destination: M54 Lebanon TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,482 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from CAK, 25 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.