# NTSB CHI80FET18: Pitts S-1S, N75KS, Fort Wayne, IN, May 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 4, 1980
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN · FORT WAYNE, IN
- Location: 41.1306° N, 85.1289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Wayne, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1306&lon=-85.1289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131650
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FET18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FET18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0318   80/5/4    FORT WAYNE,IN       PITTS S-1S          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1842                    N75KS               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 36, 628 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            47 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VALHALLA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FORT WAYNE,IN               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
        REMARKS- ELEVATOR PUSH-PULL TUBE FAILED AT ROD END BEARING.ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AFT LIFT-OFF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75KS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75KS-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 725, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S-1S
- Registry model: [Schneider-Kenton PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/schneider-kenton-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 7220663) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Valhalla

## 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 19800504012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800504012339A), May 4, 1980: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Ft Wayne, IN, Destroyed. Climbed to 100 feet on takeoff. Rolled over, spiriled to ground. Found broken elevator push-pull stud.

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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