Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The commercial pilot was taking off in his single-engine tail wheel-equipped airplane, when veered to the left at a high rate of speed shortly after the tail wheel came up off the ground. The airplane went off the side of the runway and struck a runway light with the lower left wing causing substantial damage. Examination of the airplane by maintenance personnel found no pre mishap anomalies. The winds were calm at the time of the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA020 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 9, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Alamosa, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Alamosa (ALS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built Pitts Special S-1
- N-number
- N59JT
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.