Pitts S-1 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 35 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 02, 2025 | Danbury, CT | N742MA | Incident | — | Investigation pending |
| Aug 12, 2025 | Goodyear, AZ | N51HC | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Feb 17, 2022 | Spring, TX | N731FL | Serious (1) | substantial |
The failure of maintenance personnel to properly connect the throttle cable, which led to the pilot’s inability to control engine power during the ini…The failure of maintenance personnel to properly connect the throttle cable, which led to the pilot’s inability to control engine power during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s misjudgment of the headwind during the forced landing, which resulted in the airplane’s touchdown short of the runway and its impact with airport structures. |
| Jul 17, 2004 | Durham, NC | N177J | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. |
| Jan 03, 2004 | Burleson, TX | N9AQ | Incident | substantial |
The separation of the right main gear wheel, during landing, due to the improper maintenance by unknown maintenance personnel on the right main landin…The separation of the right main gear wheel, during landing, due to the improper maintenance by unknown maintenance personnel on the right main landing gear assembly. |
| Dec 19, 2001 | Sanford, FL | N522H | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing roll in a tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over on the runway. |
| Oct 13, 2000 | MOUNT POCONO, PA | N800AS | Minor | substantial | Pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing. A factor was the crosswind. |
| Oct 23, 1998 | MCCALL, ID | N144JS | Incident | substantial |
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the uneven taxiway, inadequate airport maintenance (temporar…The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the uneven taxiway, inadequate airport maintenance (temporary threshold marking) by the airport management, and a ditch alongside the taxiway. |
| Sep 13, 1996 | RENO, NV | N15HR | Incident | substantial |
The pilot of N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedur…The pilot of N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedure to allow simultaneous landings by aircraft on the same runway. |
| Jul 12, 1995 | LIVERMORE, CA | N715L | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment and subsequent collision with some bales of hay. |
| Apr 15, 1995 | AUBURN, CA | N301SH | Fatal (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN PERFORMING A ROLL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ASSURE A SAFE COMPLETION. |
| Oct 22, 1994 | GALEVILLE, NY | N7037W | Minor | destroyed |
Inadequate maintenance inspection which resulted in disengagement of the rudder clevis bolt and the inflight loss of control during aerobatic manuever…Inadequate maintenance inspection which resulted in disengagement of the rudder clevis bolt and the inflight loss of control during aerobatic manuevers. |
| Jul 15, 1994 | STEVENSVILLE, MD | N515TN | Minor | substantial |
Inadequate maintenance by which undertorquing of the accessory gear retaining bolt resulted in fatigue failure of the bolt and the subsequent loss of …Inadequate maintenance by which undertorquing of the accessory gear retaining bolt resulted in fatigue failure of the bolt and the subsequent loss of engine power. |
| Aug 05, 1992 | GALION, OH | N88UM | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL. |
| Mar 01, 1992 | REIDSVILLE, NC | N517L | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TAILWIND AND THE IMPROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT. FACTORS WERE THE TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE …THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TAILWIND AND THE IMPROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT. FACTORS WERE THE TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE TALL OBSTACLES (TREES) AROUND THE RUNWAY. |
| Nov 17, 1990 | CARSON CITY, NV | N9QB | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND THE ABRUPT PULLUP TO A PREMATURE TAKEOFF. |
| Jul 09, 1989 | BUTLER, TN | N8336 | Minor | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE SURFACE DURING AN IMPROMPTU ACROBATIC MANEUVER. |
| Jun 02, 1989 | HENRYETTA, OK | N64652 | Serious (1) | destroyed |
AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE OF AN EXHAUST STACK. THE STACK FAILED DUE TO POOR WELD. FACTOR(S) WAS: THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS…AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE OF AN EXHAUST STACK. THE STACK FAILED DUE TO POOR WELD. FACTOR(S) WAS: THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS OF THE SELECTED FORCED LANDING SITE. |
| Nov 17, 1988 | DELPHI, IN | N3RJ | Fatal (1) | destroyed | FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER DUE TO LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF FLIGHT REGIME. |
| Oct 16, 1988 | RIDGEWAY, VA | N66RJ | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Oct 25, 1987 | CLEARWATER, FL | N14SH | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 03, 1987 | BROOKS, GA | N11HJ | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 25, 1987 | CHARLEVOIX, MI | N76SC | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Nov 08, 1986 | MIAMI, FL | N22XP | Minor | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Nov 02, 1986 | SHELBY, MT | N255NK | Incident | destroyed | Investigation pending |