Bloodworth PITTS SPECIAL S-1C N1769

Summary

On 3 June 1989 at about 21:56 local time, a Bloodworth PITTS SPECIAL S-1C registered N1769, operated by Ernest S. Gann, was involved in an accident near Townsville, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 1989 at 21:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Townsville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bloodworth PITTS SPECIAL S-1C

Registration

N1769

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ernest S. Gann

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89DMG05

1 person died.

INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR THE PILOT TO RECOVER FROM A SPIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HIS OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS FOR A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT WERE HAVING A COOK-OUT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, HE PERFORMED OVERHEAD FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES; DOING LOOPS, ROLLS & STALLS, AND FLEW CLOSE TO BOATS ON A LAKE. JUST BEFORE CRASHING IN A WOODED AREA, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN FROM WHICH IT DID NOT RECOVER. AFTER IMPACT, A FIRE ERUPTED & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.