# NTSB FTW81FQG57: Pitts S-1S, N51RA, Clovis, NM, August 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 25, 1981
- Place: Clovis, NM · CLOVIS, NM
- Location: 34.4386° N, 103.1942° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clovis, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4386&lon=-103.1942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124009
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQG57
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQG57

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2536  81/8/25    CLOVIS,NM           PITTS S-1S          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 2087
        TIME - 1330                    N51RA               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 58 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CLOVIS,NM                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        REMARKS- UN TO RECOVER FM INVERTED SPIN,BAILED OUT.PLT HAD NO FORMAL TRAINING IN INVERTED SPINS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51RA-1984-08-01), registration cancelled 1984-08-01, S/N 602 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S-1S
- Registry model: [Pitts Special S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 72202ZT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810825051359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810825051359A), Aug 25, 1981: Child S1SPITTS, Clovis, NM, Destroyed. Unable to recover from practice inverted spin. Bailed out. Improper recovery attempt.

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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