Pitts S-2A accident near Van Nuys, California, August 3, 1985
On August 3, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Pitts S-2A, registered N88M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- August 3, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2A · all S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N88M · registry record · serial 2131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER PRACTICING ACROBATICS THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRACTICING LANDINGS. HE MADE THE FIRST ONE SUCCESSFULLY, BUT FLARED OUT HIGH ON THE SECOND LANDING. THE ACFT BOUNCED 'HARD' ON THE RWY TWICE, & THE PLT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. AFTER APPLYING ENG POWER, THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT, OVERFLEW THE RUNWAY'S EDGE & COLLIDED WITH A SIGN. THE PLT CONTINUED WITH THE GO AROUND & LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER MISHAP. THE PLT REPORTED HAVING 354 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS OF WHICH 11.7 WERE LOGGED AS PIC IN THE PITTS MODEL OF ACFT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 354 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,539 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO360A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alpha Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from VNY
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.