Amateur-built S1E accident near Troutdale, Oregon, July 16, 2003
On July 16, 2003 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built S1E, registered N732E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland-Troutdale 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 inability to maintain directional control due to an obstruction of the left brake line by foreign material resulting in asymmetrical braking.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2003 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland-Troutdale Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S1E
- Registration
- N732E · no longer on the register · serial 8-0120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tail wheel equipped Andelin (Pitts) S1E reported that after a local flight he returned to his airport of departure and set up for an approach to runway 25. He made a 3-point touchdown and as the aircraft decelerated through about 40 miles per hour the aircraft began to drift right of centerline. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of left rudder but the aircraft continued to the right at which time he applied left brake. The aircraft's lower left wingtip then contacted the runway and the aircraft decelerated to a stop coming to rest on its nose and right wingtip. Post-crash examination of the aircraft's braking system revealed a piece of hose lining material within the left brake line at the caliper fitting which completely obstructed the left brake line. This condition would have resulted in asymmetrical braking.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,613 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 17,684 as pilot in command; 3,406 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 682 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2002; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD Troutdale OR at 10:25 pm
- Destination: TTD Troutdale OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from TTD
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.