# NTSB MIA84LA262: Thomas Pitts Special S1-SP, N44GP, Niceville, FL, September 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 27, 1984, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Niceville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.529779, -86.480186 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5298&lon=-86.4802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31199
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31199/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA262

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - throttle/power lever,linkage - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ENGINE THROTTLE LINKAGE THE ENGINE DECELERATED TO IDLE POWER. THE PLT ELECTED TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING IN A BAYOU.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N44GP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: THOMAS PITTS SPECIAL S1-SP (PITTS SPEC)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: PITTS SPEC.
- Airframe hours: 427
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roscoe D. Morton
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 1984, 29 hours before
- Departed: NICEVILLE, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 21,250 total, 304 in this make and model, 21,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CEW, 16 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 19840927071669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840927071669A), Sep 27, 1984: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, Niceville, FL, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during forced landing after engine quit. Throttle linkage separated allowing engine to decelerate.

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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