Pitts S-1 accident near Julian, California, February 3, 1986
On February 3, 1986 at about 1:40 am local time, a Pitts S-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N7JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Julian, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- February 3, 1986 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Julian, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1, amateur-built · all S-1s on the register
- Registration
- N7JB · registry record · serial J-B-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PITTS S-1 NOSED OVER ON LANDING ROLL IN ROUGH TERRAIN AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PLT INDICATED DUE TO FAULTY AND POOR WX BRIEFINGS THE FLIGHT WAS DETOURED FROM THE PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE ROUTES AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PLT HAD CONTACTED FSS ON TWO OCCASIONS REQUESTING WX FOR HIS DESTINATION. BOTH TIMES THE WX WAS GIVEN AS 3000 FT OVC AND 15 MI VISIBILITY. THE PLT'S ROUTE REQUIRED NAVIGATION THROUGH THE COASTAL RANGE MTS. THE PEAKS OF WHICH RISE BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 FT MSL WITH PASSES AT 3000 FT MSL. THE FLD ELEV OF THE WX REPORTING STATION WAS 385 FEET. THE REPORTED WX CONDITIONS PLACED THE BASE OF THE CEILING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 200 FT IN THE PASSES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,325 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1986; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L04 Holtville CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SEE San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.