# NTSB FTW81FRA34: Pitts S1S, N35DW, Livingston, TX, May 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 22, 1981
- Place: Livingston, TX · LIVINGSTON, TX
- Location: 30.7100° N, 94.9379° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Livingston, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7100&lon=-94.9379&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRA34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRA34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1976  81/5/22    LIVINGSTON,TX       PITTS S1S           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 51,
        TIME - 1615                    N35DW               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  35000 TOTAL HOURS, 62 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LIVINGSTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LIVINGSTON,TX               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        REMARKS- PLND 10TURN INVERTED SPIN.BGN SPIN APRX 4500FT.COML PLT CERT STILL UNDER 120 DAY SUSPENSION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35DW-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 22130DW (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S1S
- Registry model: [Williams Donald P PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/williams-donald-p-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 7220699) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Livingston

## 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 19810522027849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810522027849A), May 22, 1981: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1, Livingston, TX, Destroyed. Entered practice lengthy inverted spin. Failed to recover. Skilled acrobatic pilot may have blacked out.

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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