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Accidents · NTSB LAX91DXQ01 · Final report

Pitts S-1E accident near Carson City, Nevada, November 17, 1990

On November 17, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Pitts S-1E, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N9QB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carson City, Nevada (Carson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND THE ABRUPT PULLUP TO A PREMATURE TAKEOFF.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
November 17, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 1990
Place
Carson City, Nevada · Carson · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Pitts S-1E, amateur-built · all S-1Es on the register
Registration
N9QB · registry record · serial SB3
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT STALLED HIS AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORMATION TAKEOFF. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT INTO THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND HIS CORRECTIONS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO ARREST THE DRIFT. HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE AIR TO AVOID A COLLISION AND STALLED. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

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: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
  • Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,100 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: ctr

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 341 hours
  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 26, 1990; 22 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 5,900 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
  • Visibility: 40 statute miles
  • Sky: scat
  • Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 6:50 pm from RNO, 20 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX91DXQ01.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.