# NTSB FTW95LA067: Timothy J Brown Pitts S2SE, N604SB, Grand Prairie, TX, December 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1994, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Grand Prairie, TX - Coordinates: 32.77972, -97.010131 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7797&lon=-97.0101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19323 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19323/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA067 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis AFTER A LOSS OF POWER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A SOFT, MUDDY FIELD. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE 'TUMBLED' AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING TO A ROAD; HOWEVER; HE 'ELECTED' TO LAND IN THE FIELD WHEN HE 'OBSERVED VEHICULAR TRAFFIC' ON THE ROAD. TWO SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUNS WERE PERFORMED AFTER RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE THROUGH RPM RANGES 200- 2800. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 1994, approximately 1420 central standard time, a Pitts S2SE, N604SB, was destroyed during a forced landing near Grand Prairie, Texas. The private pilot received serious injuries. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. The airplane departed Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (F67), Grand Prairie, Texas, approximately 1400, to practice aerobatics with another aircraft. The pilot reported in a written statement that after 5 minutes of practicing aerobatics, he "experienced a loss of power for approximately 2-3 seconds." After the loss of power he started to return to F67 and experienced another "loss of power." The pilot then "switched to the auxiliary tank and the engine caught and ran smoothly." After 3-4 minutes there was "another loss of power", at which time the pilot "switched back to the main tank." The engine "caught momentarily" and then "lost power again." After an unsuccessful restart attempt, the pilot "set up for a forced landing." The pilot of the other aircraft asked him where he was going to land. The pilot responded that he was going to put it in "this field" and then said, "I'm going to try to put it on this road." The airplane subsequently impacted in a soft, muddy field. The pilot of the other aircraft stated that the airplane "seemed to tumble" when it contacted the ground. After the accident, the pilot reported that as he was "setting up" to land on the road, he "observed vehicular traffic" on the road and "elected" to execute the landing in the field. Two successful engine runs were performed after the accident. The engine started normally on both runs and operated normally through ranges of 200 to 2800 RPM. Manifold pressures were observed to be normal and consistent throughout the RPM ranges. Magnetos had impulse during checks at 1500, 2000, and 2500 RPM. Fuel spills were observed at the accident site and ground scars were confined to an area within 20 feet of the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N604SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N604SB-1997-11-03), registration cancelled 1997-11-03, S/N 001HB (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TIMOTHY J BROWN PITTS S2SE - Registry model: [Brown Timothy J PITTS S2SE](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-timothy-j-pitts-s2se) (registry code 72216A9) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: EB1 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Starke, Chester N. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1994, 50 hours before - Departed: F67 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 875 total, 35 in this make and model, 752 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NBE, 7 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 19941217041649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941217041649A), Dec 17, 1994: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Grand Prairie, TX, Destroyed. Reported intermittant power and complete power loss. Nosed over landing in muddy field. Engine checked normal. 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.