Amateur-built PITTS S-1-E accident near Walters, Oklahoma, July 8, 1993
On July 8, 1993 at about 2:15 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1-E, registered N70BW, was destroyed in an accident near Walters, Oklahoma. 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
PERFORMANCE OF AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1993 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Walters, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1-E PITTS S-1-
- Registration
- N70BW · no longer on the register · serial 8-0130
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL LOW PASSES OVER THEIR RURAL HOMES. THE PILOT'S FATHER-IN-LAW THEN SAW THE AIRPLANE FLYING SOUTH ALONG THE HIGHWAY IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE AND AT LOW ALTITUDE. HE SAID THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN 'OUTSIDE RECOVERY' BUT INSTEAD OF LEVELLING OFF, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED DESCENDING UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. CONSTRUCTION ON THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THE RECORDING TACHOMETER READ 27:10 HOURS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,900 hours in all; 27 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from LAW, 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.