Amateur-built S-1C accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, May 7, 1989
On May 7, 1989 at about 9:20 pm local time, a amateur-built S-1C, registered N7VC, was destroyed in an accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO INSURE RECOVERY FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AND SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1989 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-1C
- Registration
- N7VC · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER WHICH CULMINATED IN A SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A POSITION FROM WHICH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. WHILE STILL DESCENDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CRAWL AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT BEGAN BURNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,865 hours in all; 1,310 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,865 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,361 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 18, 1987; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5W5 Raleigh NC at 9:00 am
- Destination: NC81 Apex NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7VC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.