Amateur-built PITTS S-1 accident near Houghton Lake, Michigan, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985 at about 12:55 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1, registered N42RB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houghton Lake, Michigan (Roscommon 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
- July 7, 1985 · about 12:55 pm local time
- Place
- Houghton Lake, Michigan · Roscommon · 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
- Registration
- N42RB · no longer on the register · serial 12128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED DOWN FOLLOWING A GROUND LOOP DURING A LANDING ROLL. THE PLT REPORTED THE TAILWHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND IT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACFT TRAVELED APRX 10 FT OFF THE RWY WHERE THE LEFT WING DUG INTO THE TERRAIN AND THE ACFT NOSED DOWN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE TAILWHEEL STEERING SPRINGS WERE DISCONNECTED AND THE WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE HUB.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,994 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1,994 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y91 Lake City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from HTL
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.