# NTSB FTW86FA049: Spencer Pitts S-1, N66D, Mckinney, TX, March 28, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 1986, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Mckinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.180088, -96.589775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1801&lon=-96.5898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 21889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21889/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA049 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, ground personnel (cause) - inadequate training, other person (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, takeoff - initial climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, ground personnel (cause) - inadequate training, other person (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AS A PITTS SPECIAL, N66D, WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LND, A CESSNA L-19E TOWPLANE, N4431B, WAS ON THE 1300' GRASS OVERRUN NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY WITH A GLIDER BEING READIED FOR TOW. THE GLIDER (SAILPLANE) WAS A GROB 103, N226BG.THE PLT OF THE PITTS STATED HE NOTICED SVRL GLIDERS & TOWPLANES PARKED ON/NEAR THE OVERRUN, BUT SINCE THE USUAL PRACTICEWAS TO PARK SUCH ACFT IN THAT AREA, HE DID NOT CONSIDER THEIR PRESENCE AN INDCN OF IMMINENT TAKEOFF. AS THE PITTS CONTD ON FINAL APCH, THE TOWPLANE & GLIDER STARTED TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER THE TOWPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT & THE PITTS CONVERGEDVERTICALLY & COLLIDED. THE PITTS THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DSCNT & CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, BUT THE PLTWAS SECURED IN THE ACFT BY A 5 POINT HARNESS & A LAP BELT & SURVIVED. THE TOWPLANE'S LEFT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLANE CONTD FLYING & LNDD SAFELY. RPRTDLY, THE WING WALKER FOR THE GLIDER WAS INEXPERIENCED & DID NOT CONFIRM THE LNDG TRAFFIC OR SIGNAL THE TOWPLT TO DELAY THE TAKEOFF. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) AS A PITTS SPECIAL, N66D, WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LND, A CESSNA L-19E TOWPLANE, N4431B, WAS ON THE 1300' GRASS OVERRUN NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY WITH A GLIDER BEING READIED FOR TOW. THE GLIDER (SAILPLANE) WAS A GROB 103, N226BG.THE PLT OF THE PITTS STATED HE NOTICED SVRL GLIDERS & TOWPLANES PARKED ON/NEAR THE OVERRUN, BUT SINCE THE USUAL PRACTICEWAS TO PARK SUCH ACFT IN THAT AREA, HE DID NOT CONSIDER THEIR PRESENCE AN INDCN OF IMMINENT TAKEOFF. AS THE PITTS CONTD ON FINAL APCH, THE TOWPLANE & GLIDER STARTED TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER THE TOWPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT & THE PITTS CONVERGEDVERTICALLY & COLLIDED. THE PITTS THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DSCNT & CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, BUT THE PLTWAS SECURED IN THE ACFT BY A 5 POINT HARNESS & A LAP BELT & SURVIVED. THE TOWPLANE'S LEFT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLANE CONTD FLYING & LNDD SAFELY. RPRTDLY, THE WING WALKER FOR THE GLIDER WAS INEXPERIENCED & DID NOT CONFIRM THE LNDG TRAFFIC OR SIGNAL FOR THE TOWPLT TO DELAY THE TAKEOFF. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N66D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66D-2011-04-16), registration cancelled 2011-04-16, S/N 248H, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SPENCER PITTS S-1 - Registry model: [Spencer PITTS SPECIAL S-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/spencer-pitts-special-s-1) (registry code 72202MH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 248H - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ken Krebaum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: TX05, Aero Country, runway 17, 2,950 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4431B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4431B), registered now, S/N 24513 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA L-19E - Registry model: [Cessna L-19E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-l-19e) (registry code 2074016) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24513 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-11 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: David Hickley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: TX05, Aero Country, runway 17, 2,950 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N66D; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 800 total, 90 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4431B; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAL, 22 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19860328008112A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860328008112A), Mar 28, 1986: Child S1SPITTS, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft struck N4431B during final approach. N4431B took off in front of this plane and pilot did not see it. - [Accident 19860328008111A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860328008111A), Mar 28, 1986: Cessna L19E, Mckinney, TX, Minor damage. The glider tow aircraft was struck by N66D during takeoff. Pilot and wingwalker failed to clear final approach. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.