Amateur-built PITTS MODEL 12 accident near Neosho, Missouri, July 26, 2000
On July 26, 2000 at about 10:50 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS MODEL 12, registered N811WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neosho, Missouri (Neosho-Hugh Robinson Arpt airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable terrain the pilot selected during his emergency landing. Factors were the hay rolls and the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2000 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Neosho, Missouri · Neosho-Hugh Robinson Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS MODEL 12 PITTS MODE
- Registration
- N811WS · no longer on the register · serial 123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane impacted terrain and objects during a forced landing following an in flight loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, "I add a small amount of power when the engine quit, a large bang, not mechanical but carbaroter [carburetor] or fuel related, like a backfire, and no power - the engine poped several times. I changed the throttle settings several times, turned on the fuel boost pump [and] the fuel injector. No help. Turned to the right to a hay field, tried to miss the 2,000 lb hay rolls, no place to land-jumped the fence at the end-came down on the tailwheel first then on the main gear-got the prop first on the ground, then hit the hay roll. Hit the right side of engine and right wings. The aircraft nosed over and slid on the engine for approx 20ft. then over on its back." The spark plugs exhibited a dark black color. The temperature and dew point plot on a Transport Canada Carburetor Icing chart intersected in the serious icing-descent power range. The pilot stated, "I found out after the fact that the engine has a tendency to flood out. ... There is a carburetor mod for the engine which we put on the next a/c we built and it, the engine, Vedeneyev M14PF, has ran without any problems now for 40 hrs. Conclusions: The engines and carburetors need to be checked and tuned for our fuels here in the US. Check for the carburetor mods that are out there and talk to someone who has one and is flying one now to learn its secrets."
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,284 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 20,186 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vendeneyev M-14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EOS MO at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 190°F (88°C), dew point 158°F (70°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from JLN, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.