Christen PITTS S-2B N6031U
23 November 1989 · La Junta, Texas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 November 1989 at about 18:40 local time, a Christen PITTS S-2B registered N6031U, operated by Vernon C. Rawls, was involved in an accident near La Junta, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- La Junta, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.9592, -97.6804
- Aircraft
- Christen PITTS S-2B
- Registration
- N6031U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Vernon C. Rawls
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fort Worth → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW90FA037
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN AND HIS MISJUDGING OF ALTITUDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS OVER AN OPEN FIELD. HE ACCOMPLISHED A HAMMERHEAD STALL & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING, WHEN IT STARTED A RIGHT SPIN. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN & HEARD THE ENGINE BACKFIRE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FULL POWER WAS APPLIED. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN AT A LOW ALTITUDE AS THE PILOT WAS SEEN TO RECOVER AND ATTEMPT TO PULL UP. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD IN A 35 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND NEAR WINGS LEVEL POSITION. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Christen PITTS accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1990 | Christen PITTS | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Hosking Aerobatics | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1991 | Christen PITTS S-2B | Scappoose, Oregon, United States | Edwin M. Stanley | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Oct 1991 | Christen PITTS S-2B | Sebring, Florida, United States | MTF, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Dec 1986 | Christen PITTS S-2B | Gulfport, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1992 | Christen PITTS S2B | Schellsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | Richard D Schauss | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1993 | Christen PITTS S-2B | Hawthorne, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1989 | Mooney M20J | Jasper, Texas, United States | Stratton, William A. | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1989 | Beechcraft V35B | Lampasas, Texas, United States | Phil P. O'neal | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 May 1989 | Piper PA-24-250 | Decatur, Texas, United States | Frazier, David R. | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 1989 | Beechcraft A36TC | Amarillo, Texas, United States | L.l.pownell | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1989 | Piper PA-32R | Stratford, Texas, United States | Sherman Implement Co. | No injuries | - |