Moffett Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mountain View, California 94035
Saturday, September 13, 2003 15:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot dragged a wing while performing during an air show. As the pilot was executing a series of low altitude slow rolls, about 35 feet above ground level (agl), the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane then impacted the runway inverted and slid to a stop. No mechanical malfunctions were reported prior to the mishap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance with the runway during a low altitude aerobatic maneuver.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Mountain View
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94035
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372455N
Event Location Longitude 1220254W
Event Location Airport Moffett Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NUQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14469
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57BC
NTSB Number LAX03CA287
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aviat
Aircraft Model Pitts S-2C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6004
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
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 The Cornick Family Trust
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name William E. Cornick
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Thousand Oaks
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NUQ
Departure City Mountain View
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NUQ
Destination City Mountain View
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 10 2003 5:03PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --