Aerotek PITTS S-1T accident near Sun City, Florida, February 14, 1993
On February 14, 1993 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-1T, registered N49308, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City, Florida. 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO VERIFY FUEL LOAD AFTER REFUELING, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1993 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-1T · all PITTS S-1Ts on the register
- Registration
- N49308 · no longer on the register · serial 1004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FUELED THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. DURING REFUELING HE HAD ANOTHER PERSON READING THE FUEL METER AND HE TOLD THIS PERSON TO CALL OUT AFTER 14 GALLONS WERE ADDED. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ENGINE FAILED EN ROUTE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN ORANGE GROVE. THE PILOT DETERMINED THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THAT THE PERSON READING THE FUEL METER HAD CALLED OUT 1.4 GALLONS NOT 14 GALLONS.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,190 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,017 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 465 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1992; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X55 Eustis FL at 8:10 pm
- Destination: SPG St Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from TPA, 20 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.