# Accident 20251231020229A: Michael W Stewart PITTS S1, Murphysboro, IL, December 31, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2025, 16:03 local time
- Place: Murphysboro, IL
- Airport: Southern Illinois
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7698° N, 89.2455° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7698&lon=-89.2455&mi=10
- Aircraft: N401MS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N401MS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Michael W Stewart PITTS S1 (registry code 05634AL, https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-w-stewart-pitts-s1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-EXP (registry code 42406, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-exp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MICHAEL W STEWART PITTS S1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251231020229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AFTER A LOW PASS ON RUNWAY 18, THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE AND LEVELED OFF.  SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF, THE CLAMP ON THE MIXTURE CABLE CAME OFF AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL WENT TO LEAN CUT-OFF AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE.  THE ENGINE DID NOT RESART AND THE PILOT RELIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT, HE LINED UP WITH THE ROAD.  THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE, WHICH DESTROYED THE LEFT WING.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME A STOP FACING APPROXIAMATELY 180 DEGREES OPPOSITE HIS APPROACH

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA074), Dec 31, 2025: Pitts S1S (N401MS), Carbondale, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from an uncommanded change to the fuel servo mixture position due to the improperly installed mixture cable.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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