Pitts SA-1 accident near East Jordan, Michigan, July 31, 1990
On July 31, 1990 at about 2:38 pm local time, a Pitts SA-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N15Z, was destroyed in an accident near East Jordan, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DURING LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATICS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1990 · about 2:38 pm local time
- Place
- East Jordan, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts SA-1, amateur-built
- Registration
- N15Z · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A HOMEBUILT AEROBATIC BIPLANE WAS PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATICS FOR FRIENDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING INVERTED AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN IT DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. WITNESSES ESTIMATED ITS ANGLE OF DESCENT AND SPEED TO BE 60 DEGREES AND 170 M.P.H., RESPECTIVELY.
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
- Flight time: 1,220 hours in all; 270 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from TVC, 38 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.