Amateur-built PITTS S-1C accident near Miami, Florida, June 1, 1988
On June 1, 1988 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1C, registered N36GB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Richards Field). 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
- June 1, 1988 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Richards Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-1C
- Registration
- N36GB · registry record · serial GB3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A TAIL-SLIDE MANEUVER WHEN THE ENG SUDDENLY QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENG. WHEN ENG WOULD NOT RESTART, HE ELECTED TO LND A/C IN A FLD. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE A/C NOSED OVER. FAA STATED THAT THE CARB WAS DAMAGED DURING IMPACT AND THAT THE ENG COULD NOT BE RUN.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 272 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 308 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 27, 1988; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from TMB, 7 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.