Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S accident near Piru, California, May 28, 1984
On May 28, 1984 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, registered N608BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Piru, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 28, 1984 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Piru, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S PITTS SPEC · all PITTS SPECIAL S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N608BC · registry record · serial KA-102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANUEVERS IN A DESIGNATED PRACTICE AREA AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2500 FT AGL. THE PLT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A 'TAIL SLIDE' MANEUVER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WHICH 'IS A NORMAL ENGINE RESPONSE FOR THE MANEUVER.' THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN DRY RIVERBED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE ACFT STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED OVER.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,352 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 8,176 as pilot in command; 1,649 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1983; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.