Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C accident near Townsville, North Carolina, June 3, 1989
On June 3, 1989 at about 9:56 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, registered N1769, was destroyed in an accident near Townsville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM A SPIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HIS OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1989 · about 9:56 pm local time
- Place
- Townsville, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C PITTS SPEC
- Registration
- N1769 · no longer on the register · serial BP-1169
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS FOR A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT WERE HAVING A COOK-OUT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, HE PERFORMED OVERHEAD FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES; DOING LOOPS, ROLLS & STALLS, AND FLEW CLOSE TO BOATS ON A LAKE. JUST BEFORE CRASHING IN A WOODED AREA, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN FROM WHICH IT DID NOT RECOVER. AFTER IMPACT, A FIRE ERUPTED & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from RDU, 35 miles away
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.
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.