Amateur-built PITTS S1C accident near Miami, Florida, November 7, 1993
On November 7, 1993 at about 9:25 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S1C, registered N55SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Kendal-Tamiami Executive 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RESULTING IN THE TOTAL 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
- November 7, 1993 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Kendal-Tamiami Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S1C
- Registration
- N55SR · registry record · serial 1DB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE, A TREE, AND THEN THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR .96 HOUR, INDICATED BY THE TACHOMETER SINCE DOCUMENTED FUELING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,045 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 778 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 991 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6X6 Homestead FL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from TMB, 6 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.