Anderson PITTS S-1 N31SP

Summary

On 8 October 1992 at about 22:15 local time, a Anderson PITTS S-1 registered N31SP, operated by Bardic Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Minersville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 1992 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Minersville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.6695, -76.2009

Aircraft

Anderson PITTS S-1

Registration

N31SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bardic Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pottsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC93LA011

1 person was seriously injured.

A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A FOREIGN OBJECT JAMMING THE ELEVATOR FLIGHT CONTROLS.

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 TO PROVIDE AN OPINION OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE OWNER. FAA RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT WAS CERTIFIED FOR AEROBATIC MANEUVERS TO THE SURFACE. THE PILOT HAD OVER 300 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE PITTS. AFTER SEVERAL AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO COUNTER A NOSE-UP ATTITUDE AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND ENTERED A SPIN. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SPIN ROTATION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE PITCH PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND. A C-CLAMP WAS FOUND IN THE AFT FUSELAGE, NEAR THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS. THE CLAMP WAS BENT, GOUGED, AND HAD MARKS WHERE THE PAINT HAD BEEN REMOVED. AN ELEVATOR CONTROL ROD WAS FRACTURED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.