- Date
- August 16, 1991, 16:57 local (20:57 UTC)
- Place
- Monroe, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9HEHarold J. Eagen Pitts Special S-1C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910816034489A
- Case key
- 8459
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Contamination and water existing in the fuel system which resulted in engine stoppage and the pilot's continued flight with a known aircraft deficiency.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot was flying the newly purchased hombebuilt airplane when the engine began to run roughly. This engine roughness coincided with switching fuel tanks. He landed and had some friends check the airplane; it was then assumed that old fuel still remained in the upper fuel tank. After a local 'test flight', he decided to continue the trip using the lower tank only. Shortly after takeoff, he reported that the engine was 'detonating'. He was observed on short final at a nearby airport, then he was observed executing a go-around. The airplane then descended into nearby trees, crashed, and burned. Inspection of the wreckage revealed water and corrosion in the aircraft fuel system. The airplane, which was about 10-years-OLD, had a total flight time of 46 hours. Reportedly, it was stored for several years prior to the purchase.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9HE
- Reported as
- Harold J. Eagen Pitts Special S-1C (PITTS SPEC)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 101
- Airframe hours
- 46
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2C, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Brooks, James D.
- Registered owner
- Brooks, James D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 10, 1991 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 9A1 · Covington, GA
- Destination
- CEU · Clemson, SC
- Airport
- A06 · Walton County, runway 3, 3,300 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 670 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AHN, 21 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.