# NTSB MIA66A0139: Stits Ray SA3, N177S, Columbia, SC, May 29, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 29, 1966
- Place: Columbia, SC · COLUMBIA, SC
- Location: 34.0007° N, 81.0348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbia, SC, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0007&lon=-81.0348&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 171552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA66A0139
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0139

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0470  66/5/29    COLUMBIA SC         STITS RAY SA3       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1740                    N177S               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 25, 1377 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            3 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OWENS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N177S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177S-1966-06-30), registration cancelled 1966-06-30, S/N P-634 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STITS RAY SA3
- Registry model: [Stits PLAYBOY](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-playboy) (registry code 86502HB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Owens

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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