Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C accident near Troutdale, Oregon, February 24, 1990
On February 24, 1990 at about 11:37 pm local time, a amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, registered N3T, was destroyed in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Troutdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1990 · about 11:37 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1C PITTS SPEC
- Registration
- N3T · registry record · serial JDR-1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY, HOWEVER, DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TERRAIN. DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION, SEVERAL PRE-EXISTING MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 639 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 59S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from TTD
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.