Pitts S1-S accident near Fallbrook, California, July 4, 1982
On July 4, 1982, a Pitts S1-S, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N6HA, was destroyed in an accident near Fallbrook, California (Fallbrook Community airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1982
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · Fallbrook Community · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1-S, amateur-built · all S1-Ss on the register
- Registration
- N6HA · no longer on the register · serial ACA4A
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESS STATEMENTS VARIED WIDELY IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT. ONE WITNESS STATED THE ACFT APPEARED TO DO A FAST & TIGHT BARRELL ROLL AFTER REACHING APPROXIMATELY 50-70 FT AGL. ANOTHER WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKE OFF AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH ANGLE, THEN SEEMED TO GO VERY ERRATIC. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THE ACFT MADE A NORMAL TAKEOFF TO APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL, THEN PITCHED DOWN ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,883 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 161 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 126 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fallbrook Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: L18 Fallbrook CA at 5:49 pm
- Destination: L18 Fallbrook CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,165 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.