Amateur-built PITTS S-1S accident near Cleburne, Texas, June 19, 1995
On June 19, 1995, a amateur-built PITTS S-1S, registered N901S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleburne, Texas. 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 MISJUDGED FLARE AND THE ENSUING HARD LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND THE FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1995
- Place
- Cleburne, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1S
- Registration
- N901S · no longer on the register · serial SA-901
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD 8 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD. THIRTY MINUTES INTO HIS CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE 'COUGHED.' HE PUMPED THE AIRPLANE'S WOBBLE FUEL PUMP AND THE ENGINE 'CLEARED.' APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FURTHER, THE ENGINE 'STOPPED.' DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, THE AIRPLANE LANDED 'HARD', NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED LESS THAN 1/2 CUP OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE; AND, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER OPERATOR'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE FUEL BURN RATES FOR THIS ENGINE AT NORMAL RATED POWER IS 16.1 GALLONS PER HOUR.
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: 445 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 378 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1995; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX05 Mckinney TX
- Destination: F18
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°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.