# NTSB DEN79FQD06: Pitts S1, N54F, Artesia, NM, May 5, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 5, 1979
- Place: Artesia, NM · ARTESIA, NM
- Location: 32.8517° N, 104.4237° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Artesia, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8517&lon=-104.4237&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135750
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FQD06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FQD06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1490   79/5/5    ARTESIA,NM          PITTS S1            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1437                    N54F                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  28, 4600 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ARETSIA MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ARTESIA,NM                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54F-2004-08-28), registration cancelled 2004-08-28, S/N 431H (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S1
- Registry model: [Fisher PITTS SPECIAL S-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/fisher-pitts-special-s-1) (registry code 7220241) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Aretsia Municipal

## 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 19790505008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790505008199A), May 5, 1979: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Artesia, NM, Destroyed. Aircraft struck power pole during pull out from a low level loop.

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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