Amateur-built PITTS S-1-S accident near Marlette, Michigan, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1-S, registered N3FW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marlette, Michigan (Marlette 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1985 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marlette, Michigan · Marlette · 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-1-S PITTS S-1-
- Registration
- N3FW · no longer on the register · serial 7001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
100 YARDS FROM END OF RWY ON FINAL APCH PLT LOST RUDDER CONTROL. DURING LANDING ROLL AS AIRSPEED AND AILERON CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS DECREASED THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE LOWER LEFT WING CONTACTED A VASI LIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED RIGHT SIDE RUDDER CABLE FAILED APRX 2 FT FROM RUDDER ATTACH POINT. CABLE APPEARED TO BE CHAFED OR CUT THROUGH 1/2 THE CIRCUMFERENCE. REMAINING PORTION APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED FROM INSTANTANEOUS TENSILE OVERLOAD.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,050 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 540 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 21, 1984; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D98 Romeo MI at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from FNT, 36 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.