Pitts S1-C accident near San Jose, California, December 1, 1985
On December 1, 1985 at about 10:27 pm local time, a Pitts S1-C, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N75PB, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid-Hillview airport). 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
- December 1, 1985 · about 10:27 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid-Hillview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1-C, amateur-built · all S1-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N75PB · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS ON RWY 13 AT REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT, SAN JOSE, CA. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE BASE LEG TO FINAL TURN, WHILE NEGOTIATING A 'POWER-OFF' APCH, HE ATTEMPTED BY APPLY PWR BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A MUDDY FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE APCH END OF THE RWY. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT FUNCTIONAL TEST. THE CURRENT TEMP/DEWPOINT WAS 55 DEG F AND 45 DEG F RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TOTHE ICING PROBABILITY CURVE, THE TEMP/DEWPOINT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE TO SERIOUS ICING CONDITIONS IN CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER SETTINGS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 954 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 783 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13R, 3,099 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:27 pm from RHV
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.