Salinas Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salinas, California 93905
Monday, October 11, 1999 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Calm wind conditions prevailed as the pilot completed six touch-and-go landings. On the next landing the airplane bounced, and the pilot initiated a go-around as part of the recovery attempt. He said the airplane veered left off the runway heading and was going toward the control tower. He banked right to return to the runway centerline and the right wing tip drug the ground. The airplane then settled into the ground and the wing and propeller were damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the effects of torque and P-factor during a go-around from a bounced landing, which led to a loss of control and the inadvertent dragging of a wing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SALINAS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93905
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SALINAS MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SNS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 84
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 84
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1834
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1051
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50AL
NTSB Number LAX00LA007
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Pitts
Aircraft Model S2B
Aircraft Series Identifier S2B
Aircraft Serial Number 5067
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PITTS S2B LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 318 N CARSON ST STE 214
Aircraft Owner City CARSON CITY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NOBUYUKI TSUGITA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 201 GLENWOOD
Operator City MONTERREY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93940
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SNS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 5005
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --