# NTSB FTW90DPJ06: Stits SA-3A Playboy, N434K, Bartlesville, OK, June 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1990, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Bartlesville, OK
- Location: 36.7634° N, 96.0112° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BARTLESVILLE MUNI (BVO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7634&lon=-96.0112&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22955
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DPJ06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22955/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DPJ06

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF AND BEGIN A SHARP LEFT CLIMBING TURN AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED ONE TURN BEFORE IMPACT. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED SEEING RUDDER INPUT PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT. MOST OF THE PILOT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS LOGGED PRIOR TO 1971. IN THE SUMMER OF 1988 HE GOT N434K RECERTIFIED, WHICH WAS BUILT BY THE PILOT IN 1957, AND OBTAINED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE ANY FLIGHT ACTIVITY SINCE 9/20/89, ALTHOUGH IT WAS REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N434K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N434K-1990-12-24), registration cancelled 1990-12-24, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STITS SA-3A PLAYBOY (SA-3A PLAY)
- Registry model: [Stits Playboy SA3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-playboy-sa3a) (registry code 86502VZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 192
- Engines: FRANKLIN YO-200-1 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Edward Frost
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 1989
- Destination: 5F2, TULSA, OK
- Airport: BVO, Frank Phillips, runway 35, 6,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 345 total, 192 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BVD, 1 nm away

## 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 19900602018159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900602018159A), Jun 2, 1990: Amtrsa STITSSA3A, Bartlesville, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled and spun vertically to ground after entering a left turnout after takeoff.

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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