Amateur-built STITS SA6B accident near Big Creek, Idaho, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built STITS SA6B, registered N3HW, was destroyed in an accident near Big Creek, Idaho (Big Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 20, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Creek, Idaho · Big Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STITS SA6B
- Registration
- N3HW · registry record · serial 777
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N3HW, A STITS SA6B, WAS BEING FLOWN FROM AN AIRSTRIP WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 7,800 FEET. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING INITIAL CLIMB AND THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO THE TREES, STRUCK THE GROUND, AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE PLT STATED THAT DURING CLIMBOUT IT FELT LIKE THE CONTROLS WEREN'T RESPONDING TO HIS INPUTS AND THAT THEY WERE SLUGGISH EVEN THOUGH, DURING THE RUNUP, THE CONTROLS HAD RESPONDED NORMALLY. THE PLT HAD ABOUT 350 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME. THE PLT HAD FLOWN INTO THIS AIRPORT BEFORE BUT NEVER IN THE STITS SA6B. THE ACFT WAS OVER THE MANUFACTURERS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT WITH AN AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY (C.G.). THE KIT MANUFACTURER STATES THAT AN AFT C.G. WILL PRODUCE SLUGGISH CONTROL RESPONSES. TREES WERE PRESENT AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP AND A SLIGHT TAILWIND WAS PRESENT.
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: 350 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: U60 Big Creek ID at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,550 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.