# NTSB ATL87DKG06: Pitts S-1, N11HJ, Brooks, GA, September 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1987, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Brooks, GA
- Coordinates: 33.290981, -84.449508 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2910&lon=-84.4495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87DKG06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87DKG06

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - initiated
  - stall/spin - intentional
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN AEROBATIC MANEUVERS NEAR THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD. THE LAST OF THE SERIES WAS A LOMCEVAK MANEUVER, WHICH WAS STARTED AT AN ESTIMATED ALT OF 2500 TO 2700 FT. A WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT WENT INTO AN INVERTED FLAT SPIN, WHICH WAS CORRECTED TO AN INVERTED SPIN, THEN A NORMAL SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. TREE MARKINGS AND GROUND DAMAGE INDICATED THE ACFT WAS IN A NEAR VERTICAL DSCNT AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WITH LITTLE OR NO FORWARD MOTION. THE EMPENNAGE WAS FOUND TWISTED TO THE LEFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11HJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11HJ-1990-02-12), registration cancelled 1990-02-12, S/N 9171 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S-1
- Registry model: [Pitts PITTS S-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-pitts-s-1) (registry code 722031A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 9171
- Airframe hours: 102
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Howard W Johnston
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1987, 1 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,000 total, 75 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870903048999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870903048999A), Sep 3, 1987: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Brooks, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed in a near vertical attitude in a densely wooded area. Was preforming a series of aerobatic maneuvers.

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.

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