Pitts Special S2C accident near Deming, New Mexico, March 30, 1987
On March 30, 1987 at about 5:19 pm local time, a Pitts Special S2C, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N58DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deming, New Mexico (Deming Municipal airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 30, 1987 · about 5:19 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico · Deming Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts Special S2C, amateur-built
- Registration
- N58DC · registry record · serial JA69
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT SWERVED DURING TAKEOFF AND THE SWERVE SEVERITY INCREASED DURING ACCELERATION. THE PLT LIFTED OFF BEFORE REACHING PROPER SPEED TO SUSTAIN FLT. THE ACFT STALL MUSHED INTO THE GROUND TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND STALLED AGAIN. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN AND THE ACFT CARTWHEELED, COMING TO REST NOSE DOWN.
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: 246 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 715 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1987; 717 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:22 pm from DMN
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.