Pitts Special S-1C accident near Temple, Texas, July 4, 1999
On July 4, 1999 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Pitts Special S-1C, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N69CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temple, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of fuel moving away from the fuel supply outlets during maneuvering with a low fuel level, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during the ensuing forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1999 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Temple, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts Special S-1C, amateur-built · all S-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N69CS · no longer on the register · serial DEB-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built aerobatic airplane impacted power lines during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that after 1.8 hours of flight and 3 miles from his destination airport the 'engine stopped.' He stated that the fuel pressure gauge was indicating 'no pressure.' The pilot then turned on the fuel boost pump and ensured the mixture was rich, the throttle was full open, and the fuel selector was in the on position. He elected to make a forced landing to a field. During the emergency approach to the field, the engine 'began to run again;' however, it ran for only 30 to 45 seconds. The pilot then attempted a forced landing on a road, and the airplane impacted power lines, which the pilot stated that he 'never saw.' The FAA inspector reported that the main fuel tank contained approximately 4 gallons of fuel, and there was no header tank installed. Without a header tank, the airplane's unusable fuel while maneuvering is 5 gallons.
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: 598 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPL TX at 5:15 pm
- Destination: TPL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from TPL, 3 miles away
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.