Pitts S1-S accident near Palm City, Florida, August 25, 1990
On August 25, 1990 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Pitts S1-S, registered N10PP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm City, Florida (Willis Slideport 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO INITIATE A GO AROUND IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT SOD AND NOSED OVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1990 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Palm City, Florida · Willis Slideport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S1-S · all S1-Ss on the register
- Registration
- N10PP · 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 PRIVATE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON A SOD RUNWAY THAT WAS WET AND SOFT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL HE NOTED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AND TIRE WERE DIGGING IN THE SOD. HE ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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
- Flight time: 390 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,070 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1990; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X58 Indiantown FL at 1:15 pm
- Destination: 1X4
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,600 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from PBI, 8 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.