Pitts S-2A accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, September 1, 2003
On September 1, 2003 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Pitts S-2A, registered N5301W, was destroyed in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Stark'S Twin Oaks 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper distance and altitude while on final approach which led to touching down short of the runway. The pilot's restricted visual lookout was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2003 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Stark'S Twin Oaks Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2A · all S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N5301W · registry record · serial 2264
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that due to the aircraft's configuration, she was unable to see the runway while on short final and in the flare. The pilot intended to land as close to the numbers as possible. The aircraft touched down short of the runway on the grassy embankment that descends below the runway elevation. The aircraft bounced onto the runway, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on its belly to a stop. A post-crash fire consumed the aircraft.
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: 1,034 hours in all; 297 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 978 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 2003; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7S5 Independence OR at 5:55 pm
- Destination: 7S3 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,465 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from HIO, 6 miles away
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 SEA03LA182.