Amateur-built PITTS S-1S accident near Franklinville, North Carolina, October 19, 1991
On October 19, 1991 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1S, registered N4241Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklinville, North Carolina (York Field). 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE POWER LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1991 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Franklinville, North Carolina · York Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1S
- Registration
- N4241Z · no longer on the register · serial 7-0455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A LOW PASS OVER THE FIELD IN ORDER FOR PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND TO PHOTOGRAPH THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED HE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE POWER LINES, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE POWER LINES DURING THE MANEUVER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN OF THE AIRPORT AND FLIPPED OVER ONTO IT'S BACK.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,291 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,220 as pilot in command; 265 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:25 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from GSO, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N4241Z 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.