N42JF

On August 25, 2024, about 1224 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Pitts S-1, N42JF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near the Santa Paula Airport (SZP), Santa Paula, California. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to multiple witnesses located at SZP, the airplane was just refueled at the self-service fuel pumps prior to departing runway 22. Witnesses said that just after departing the runway, the airplane made two popping sounds before it turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane continued in the airport traffic pattern at a lower altitude and lost engine power about abeam the numbers for runway 22. The airplane turned left onto the base leg and shortly after made a sharp right turn before it descended out of their view behind trees. Another airplane was on short final for runway 22, whose passenger saw the accident airplane pass underneath and subsequently impact terrain. There was no communication from the pilot during the flight.

The accident site was located in an irrigation storage facility about 1/3 mile east of runway 22 at SZP. The debris path was about 120 ft long and was oriented on a heading of about 030° magnetic. The airplane impacted multiple metal baskets and steel racks containing steel and aluminum irrigation pipes before it came to rest alongside two metal waste containers, where a postimpact fire ensued.

The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.