# NTSB CHI91DCQ01: Robert Bressler Pitts S-1E, N53RB, St. Francis, KS, November 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 18, 1990, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: St. Francis, KS
- Coordinates: 39.769451, -101.800811 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7695&lon=-101.8008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91DCQ01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DCQ01

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED BY THREE WITNESSES DOING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS AT LOW ALTITUDE FOR FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES DESCRIBE THE AIRPLANE'S LAST MANEUVER AS A VERTICAL CLIMB UNTIL IT STOPPED AND FELL OFF INTO AN INVERTED SPIN. THEY ALL CONCLUDE THEIR STATEMENTS WITH THE IMPRESSION THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A RECOVERY FROM THE SPIN WHEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53RB-1991-04-11), registration cancelled 1991-04-11, S/N 80048 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBERT BRESSLER PITTS S-1E
- Registry model: [Bressler/Young PITTS S-1E](https://openairdocs.org/model/bressler-young-pitts-s-1e) (registry code 7221018) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 8-0048
- Airframe hours: 57
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bressler, Robert W.
- Registered owner: R. W. Bressler/R. L. Young
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1990, 57 hours before
- Departed: 5K0, BIRD CITY, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,160 total, 57 in this make and model, 3,080 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19901118050869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901118050869A), Nov 18, 1990: Amtr S1E, St Francis, KS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. During low level acrobatic maneuvers stalled in a hammerhead, flipped into inverted spin and crashed.

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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