Stewart PITTS S-1S N901S

Summary

On 19 June 1995 at about 00:32 local time, a Stewart PITTS S-1S registered N901S was involved in an accident near Cleburne, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 1995 at 00:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Cleburne, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.3493, -97.3297

Aircraft

Stewart PITTS S-1S

Registration

N901S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McKinney → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA251

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED FLARE AND THE ENSUING HARD LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND THE FUEL EXHAUSTION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD 8 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD. THIRTY MINUTES INTO HIS CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE 'COUGHED.' HE PUMPED THE AIRPLANE'S WOBBLE FUEL PUMP AND THE ENGINE 'CLEARED.' APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FURTHER, THE ENGINE 'STOPPED.' DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, THE AIRPLANE LANDED 'HARD', NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED LESS THAN 1/2 CUP OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE; AND, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER OPERATOR'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE FUEL BURN RATES FOR THIS ENGINE AT NORMAL RATED POWER IS 16.1 GALLONS PER HOUR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.