Christen Industries PITTS S-2B accident near La Junta, Texas, November 23, 1989
On November 23, 1989 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, registered N6031U, was destroyed in an accident near La Junta, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN AND HIS MISJUDGING OF ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1989 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- La Junta, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries PITTS S-2B
- Registration
- N6031U · no longer on the register · serial 5122
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS OVER AN OPEN FIELD. HE ACCOMPLISHED A HAMMERHEAD STALL & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING, WHEN IT STARTED A RIGHT SPIN. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN & HEARD THE ENGINE BACKFIRE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FULL POWER WAS APPLIED. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN AT A LOW ALTITUDE AS THE PILOT WAS SEEN TO RECOVER AND ATTEMPT TO PULL UP. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD IN A 35 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND NEAR WINGS LEVEL POSITION. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 482 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T67 Fort Worth TX at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from FWH, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.