Amateur-built PITTS S 1S accident near Wellington, Kansas, October 31, 2013
On October 31, 2013 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1979 amateur-built PITTS S 1S, registered N67JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Wellington, Kansas (Wellington Muncipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to a malfunctioning fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2013 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wellington, Kansas · Wellington Muncipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S 1S, built 1979
- Registration
- N67JC · registry record · serial 101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew the airplane for about 30 minutes and then returned to the airport for landing. As the airplane approached the airport, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted a forced landing short of the runway. Fuel was found onboard, and it was not contaminated. Testing of the engine's fuel pump revealed that the fuel pressure oscillated due to a malfunctioning relief valve in the fuel pump. It is likely that the engine lost fuel pressure and subsequent power during the accident flight as a result of the malfunctioning fuel pump.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,250 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 4,760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 6, 2013
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEGT Wellington KS
- Destination: KEGT Wellington KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 2970°F (1632°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 12:58 pm from KAIB, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.