Aerotek PITTS S-2A accident near Ramona, California, July 29, 1985
On July 29, 1985 at about 1:20 am local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2A, registered N56PS, was destroyed in an accident near Ramona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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 29, 1985 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Ramona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-2A · all PITTS S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N56PS · registry record · serial 2056
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 28, 1985 AT APPROXIMATELY 1820 HOURS, A PITTS S-2A, N56PS, OWNED AND OPERATED BY WILLIAM L. TRAVIS, CRASHED ON A HILLSIDE ON THE 192 DEG RADIAL, 12.8 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE JULIAN VOR. THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AEROBATICS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MONTGOMERY FIELD, SAN DIEGO, CA., ON JULY 28, 1985 AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,574 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,327 as pilot in command; 420 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.