Pitts S1A accident near Santa Fe, Texas, January 22, 1989
On January 22, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Pitts S1A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N9961, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, Texas (Rebel Field). It was a personal 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
PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE ON FINAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, Texas · Rebel Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1A, amateur-built · all S1As on the register
- Registration
- N9961 · registry record · serial 1969 WA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT SETTLED ON FINAL APP, STRUCK PWR LINES, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON THE AIRPORT. PLT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT AND THE LINES WERE MARKED WITH HIGH VIS BALLS. PLT COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,450 hours in all; 394 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 604 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1988; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.