Amateur-built PITTS S-1S accident near Montezuma, Kansas, May 19, 1986
On May 19, 1986, a amateur-built PITTS S-1S, registered N39967, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montezuma, Kansas (Rexford 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 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
- May 19, 1986
- Place
- Montezuma, Kansas · Rexford · 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-1S
- Registration
- N39967 · no longer on the register · serial 100EA421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY THE LEFT WING STRUCK CROPS IN A WHEATFIELD WHICH ARRESTED THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE WING. ACCORDING TO TH E PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OUT OF CONTROL INTO THE WHEATFIELD, CARTWHEELED TWICE, AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. THE PLT REPORTED LOCAL WINDS WERE FROM THE EAST AT 5 TO 10 KTS.
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: 281 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8K4 Meade KS at 11:40 pm
- Destination: 46K Montezuma KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,500 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from DDC, 28 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.