Amateur-built PITTS S-1-C accident near Royse City, Texas, June 29, 1991
On June 29, 1991 at about 6:40 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1-C, registered N4PW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Royse City, Texas (Bishop 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
THE PILOT'S PERFORMANCE OF AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO ALLOW RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1991 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Royse City, Texas · Bishop Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1-C PITTS S-1-
- Registration
- N4PW · registry record · serial 470H
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT, JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT PERFORMED A SNAP ROLL. AFTER THE 360 DEGREE SNAP ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, MAIN LANDING GEAR FIRST. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, BOUNCED, AND CAME TO REST SEMI-ERECT ON THE PROPELLER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 7,800 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1990; 152 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.