# NTSB ATL89DMG03: Smithgall Pitts Special S-1C, N7VC, Fuquay-Varina, NC, May 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1989, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Coordinates: 35.719963, -78.839263 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7200&lon=-78.8393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7849
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89DMG03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7849/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DMG03

## Probable cause

PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO INSURE RECOVERY FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AND SPIN.

## 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 - performed
  - stall/spin - initiated
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER WHICH CULMINATED IN A SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A POSITION FROM WHICH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. WHILE STILL DESCENDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CRAWL AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT BEGAN BURNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7VC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7VC-1993-10-21), registration cancelled 1993-10-21, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITHGALL PITTS SPECIAL S-1C
- Registry model: [Smithgall PITTS SPECIAL S-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/smithgall-pitts-special-s-1c) (registry code 7221121) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 1361
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vernon L. Cox
- Registered owner: Vernon Lewis Cox
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 18, 1987, 61 hours before
- Departed: 5W5, RALEIGH, NC
- Destination: NC81, APEX, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 6,865 total, 1,310 in this make and model, 6,865 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 20 nm away

## 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 19890507011099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890507011099A), May 7, 1989: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Raleigh, NC, Destroyed. Got into a flat spin and unable to recover before ground impact while practising acrobatics. Aircraft burned.

## Other investigations on N7VC (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 IAD78DLJ12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78DLJ12), May 14, 1978: Pitts S1 (N7VC), Beulaville, NC, substantial damage

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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