Pitts S1-T and Pitts S2B accident near Sherman, Texas, September 23, 1993
On September 23, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S1-T (N7FD) and Pitts S2B (N15AV), were involved in the same accident near Sherman, Texas (Grayson County airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT.
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS IN COMMAND OF BOTH AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sherman, Texas · Grayson County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S1-T · all S1-Ts on the register
- Registration
- N7FD · no longer on the register · serial 1033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Pitts S2B · all S2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N15AV · registry record · serial 5228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S1-T final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE U. S. NATIONAL AEROBATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, TWO PITTS AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE COMPETITION WERE TAXIING. ONE WAS INBOUND FROM LANDING, AND THE OTHER WAS A DEPARTURE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED ON A 75 FOOT WIDE TAXIWAY. TAXIING WAS NOT MONITORED BY ATC.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE U. S. NATIONAL AEROBATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, TWO PITTS AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE COMPETITION WERE TAXIING. ONE WAS INBOUND FROM LANDING, AND THE OTHER WAS A DEPARTURE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED ON A 75 FOOT WIDE TAXIWAY. TAXIING WAS NOT MONITORED BY ATC.
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 for the Pitts S1-T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,675 hours in all; 438 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 6,420 as pilot in command; 4,287 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1993; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from F39
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Pitts S2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,950 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 3,450 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 253 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1992; 139 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.