Pitts S-1S accident near Denver, Colorado, May 18, 1986
On May 18, 1986 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Pitts S-1S, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N2DE, was destroyed in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Front Range airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 18, 1986 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Front Range · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1S, amateur-built · all S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2DE · no longer on the register · serial 555H
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORT THAT HE ENTERED NORMAL TRAFFIC FOR LANDING AT FRONT RANGE AIRPORT. THERE WERE 3 OR 4 ACFT PRECEDING HIM SO HE EXTENDED HIS TRAFFIC PATTERN. AFTER TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 1 MILE FROM END OF RWY, THE PLT SAID THE ENG QUIT ABRUPTLY. THE ACFT STALLED AND CRASHED DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND ENG RUN FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,779 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1985; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01V Aurora CO at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DEN, 15 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.