Pitts S1C accident near Mount Washington, Kentucky, October 6, 2025
On October 6, 2025 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1971 Pitts S1C, registered CFAZJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Mount Washington, Kentucky. It was a ferry 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 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
- October 6, 2025 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Washington, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1C NO SERIES, built 1971 · all S1Cs on the register
- Registration
- CFAZJ · no longer on the register · serial RA1933
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 6, 2025, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-1C Special, C-FAZJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, Kentucky about 1400 and was following a Cessna 140 flown by a family member. They were destined for Middlesboro/Bell County Airport, Middlesboro, Kentucky. According to the pilot, while enroute, he applied power to the engine and noticed no change to engine performance. He reduced engine power, with no change in engine performance. The pilot informed the family member that he was having engine issues and asked him to declare a MAYDAY on his behalf with air traffic control. As the airplane descended, the pilot realized that the engine had lost all power and the propeller was windmilling. His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a narrow field and impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wings, fuselage, and empennage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 610.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2025; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 6:05 pm
- Destination: 1A6 Middlesboro KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from SDF, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSDF 061756Z 12007KT 10SM -RA FEW009 OVC040 21/19 A3020 RMK AO2 RAE27B47 SLP224 P0001 60033 T02060189 10217 20189 58012 SPECI KSDF 061814Z 12007KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR FEW016 BKN040 OVC050 21/19 A3019 RMK AO2 P0001 T02060194
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.