Amateur-built PITTS S-1S accident near Hammondsport, New York, September 27, 1997
On September 27, 1997 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1S, registered N4241Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hammondsport, New York (Kolo'S 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 improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1997 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hammondsport, New York · Kolo'S Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1S
- Registration
- N4241Z · no longer on the register · serial 7-0455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on final approach to the destination airport. According to the pilot, 'As I came in over the trees at the north end of the airport, I eased off on the power to almost no throttle. My plane started to settle really fast. I hit the end of the airstrip hard and I heard a snap.' The left main gear collapsed, the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that the airplane was performing 'fine.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 741 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 284 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1997; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EZF Fredericksburg VA at 11:00 am
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from ELM, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under N4241Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.