Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S1C accident near Goodyear, Arizona, August 19, 1995
On August 19, 1995 at about 5:32 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S1C, registered N7RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona (Goodyear 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 owner/builder's improper installation of the fuel injection system unit by misaligning the drive shaft that resulted in the fracture of the shaft. The road sign was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1995 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Goodyear, Arizona · Goodyear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S1C PITTS SPEC
- Registration
- N7RG · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AEROBATICS WHEN THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN WAS BUSH AND BRUSH COVERED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON THE ROAD BUT COLLIDED WITH A ROAD SIGN WHEN THE ROAD CURVED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT INSTALLED ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND MISALIGNED IN THE ENGINE ACCESSORY CASE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,124 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,124 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,641 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 30, 1995; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from GYR, 9 miles away
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.