Christen Industries PITTS accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, February 3, 1990
On February 3, 1990 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Christen Industries PITTS, registered N25CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarran 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER A PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE NORMAL BRAKE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1990 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarran · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries PITTS
- Registration
- N25CH · registry record · serial 5106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING LANDING ROLL ON A FUEL STOP, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND ENTERED SOFT TERRAIN. THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND REQUIRED MORE FLUID FROM THE BRAKE RESERVOIR. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW. NO LEAKS OR OTHER PROBLEMS WERE FOUND ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN WITH LANDING GEAR ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE WINGS, MAKING IT CAPABLE OF INVERTED LANDINGS. THE SAME FLUID RESERVOIR SERVED BOTH SETS OF BRAKES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,825 hours in all; 352 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 7,538 as pilot in command; 1,106 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 698 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1989; 229 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTF Woods Cross UT at 5:05 pm
- Runway 19R, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 32.00 inHg
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.