Pitts S-1C and amateur-built NEIUPORT 24 BIS mid-air collision near Carson City, Nevada, March 19, 1988
On March 19, 1988 at about 6:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S-1C (N6389) and amateur-built NEIUPORT 24 BIS (N3545), were involved in a mid-air collision near Carson City, Nevada (Carson Airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 19, 1988 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · Carson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S-1C, amateur-built · all S-1Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6389 · no longer on the register · serial RDG1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built NEIUPORT 24 BIS NEIUPORT 2
- Registration
- N3545 · no longer on the register · serial 113
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-1C final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE CARSON ARPT, N6389 (PITTS S-1C) CIRCLED OVERHEAD & THEN DESCENDED TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT BROADCAST VIA VHF HIS LOCATION AND INTENTION ON BASE AND FINAL. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD TO RUNWAY 27, AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, N6389 COLLIDED WITH N3545 (NIEUPORT). IMPACT MARKS INDICATED THAT N6389 STRUCK THE UPPER LEFT WING OF N3545 WITH ITS WHEELS. THE LOWER RIGHT WING OF N6389 THEN DISINTEGRATED AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE PROPELLER ARC OF N3545. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ANY POSITION, ANTICOLLISION OR STROBE LIGHTS. ALTHOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BIPLANES (EQUIPPED WITH UPPER AND LOWER WINGS) IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS DESIGN HAD ANY BEARING IN OBSTRUCTING EITHER PILOT'S VIEW OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built NEIUPORT 24 BIS final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON RETURNING TO THE CARSON AIRPORT, N3545 (NIEUPORT) APPROACHED FROM THE SOUTH AND EXECUTED A 45 DEGREE ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 27. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD TO RUNWAY 27, AND AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, N3545 COLLIDED WITH N6389 (PITTS S- 1C). IMPACT MARKS INDICATED THAT N6389 STRUCK THE UPPER LEFT WING OF N3545 WITH ITS WHEELS. THE LOWER RIGHT WING OF N6389 THEN DISINTEGRATED AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE PROPELLER ARC OF N3545. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ANY POSITION, ANTICOLLISION OR STROBE LIGHTS AND N3545 WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE RADIO CALLS CITING N6389'S POSITION ON BASE AND FINAL. ALTHOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BIPLANE (EQUIPPED WITH UPPER AND LOWER WINGS) IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS DESIGN HAD ANY BEARING IN OBSTRUCTING EITHER PILOT'S VIEW OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
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 for the Pitts S-1C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,968 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 5, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD Reno NV at 5:50 pm
- Destination: O04 Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built NEIUPORT 24 BIS from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,280 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1987; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,397 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner SS-50A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O04 Carson City NV at 5:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,900 ft by 75 ft
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.