Amateur-built PITTS S-IT accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, June 16, 1991
On June 16, 1991 at about 11:08 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-IT, registered N83AM, was destroyed in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin. 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
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, BY PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN, TO THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED A BOLT ATTACHING THE ELEVATOR CONTROL ROD TO THE PITCH BELLCRANK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED DURING FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1991 · about 11:08 pm local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-IT
- Registration
- N83AM · no longer on the register · serial T-020TJ
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHEN IT DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED THAT THE PITCH (ELEVATOR) CONTROL LINKAGE UNDER THE PILOT'S SEAT, AT THE BELLCRANK, WAS MISSING A BOLT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT FAILURE IN THIS AREA AND BOTH THE TORQUE TUBE AND ROD END SHOWED NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE. THE BOLT WAS NOT LOCATED.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1990; 40 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEI0-360-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.