Amateur-built PITTS S-1 accident near Orleans, Nebraska, September 26, 1987
On September 26, 1987 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-1, registered N4365, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orleans, Nebraska. 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
- September 26, 1987 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Orleans, Nebraska · 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-1
- Registration
- N4365 · registry record · serial PA-PA
- 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 THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING AT 2,000 FT (AGL) WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE TURNED TOWARD THE NEAREST SUITABLE EMERGENCY AIRFIELD BUT THE AIRCRAFT'S RATE OF DESCENT PRECLUDED THIS OPTION. THE PILOT SELECTED A ROAD AS ALTERNATE, BUT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD FORCED HIM TO ATTEMPT AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A CULTIVATED ALFALFA FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERPLANT BY TWO FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT A CONNECTING BOLT WAS MISSING FROM THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE. OPERATION OF THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE LEVER AND BUTTERFLY WERE BENCH-CHECKED SATISFACTORILY. THE MISSING BOLT COULD NOT BE FOUND.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,280 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1987; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDE Holdrege NE at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from EAR, 44 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.