# NTSB LAX86FVM01: Pitts Special G-1, N14JD, Salinas, CA, December 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1985, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Coordinates: 36.639167, -121.620384 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6392&lon=-121.6204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FVM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FVM01

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, maneuvering
  - flight control system - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,survival equipment - worn

## Analysis

ON DECEMBER 19, 1985, AN EXPERIMENTAL PITTS-SPECIAL, N14JD, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE OWNER CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES NEAR SALINAS, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT SURVIVED BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD AN UNKNOWN FLIGHT CONTROL DIFFICULTY AND HAD TO PARACHUTE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DID NOT SUBMIT AN ACCIDENT REPORT TO THE BOARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14JD-1989-06-09), registration cancelled 1989-06-09, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS SPECIAL G-1
- Registry model: [Pitts Special G-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-special-g-1) (registry code 72201QD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: unknown UNK reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tucker, Sean D
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: SALINAS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19851219070959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851219070959A), Dec 19, 1985: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Salinas, CA. The pilot reported loss of elevator and aileron control and bailed out. The aircraft has not been located.

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.