# NTSB MIA86FA115: Pitts Special, Homestead, FL, April 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: April 7, 1986, 19:30 UTC, 14:30 local
- Place: Homestead, FL
- Coordinates: 25.490058, -80.510177 (estimated)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31495
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86FA115
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31495/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86FA115

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO PRACTICE AEROBATIC MNVRS IN A DESIGNATED PRACTICE AREA. A WITNESS, WHO WAS DRIVING NEARBY, STATED THAT HE SAW THE ACFT 'FALLING STRAIGHT DOWN' & CRASH IN A TOMATO FIELD. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, RGT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT'S FUEL SYS & NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL WAS NOTED. ALSO, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS INDICATED THERE WAS A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN THE PLT'S BLOOD, BUT NO ALCOHOL WAS DETECTED IN HIS STOMACH CONTENTS OR URINE.

## Sequence of events

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - performed
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate (cause)
  - level off - not possible

## Aircraft

- Registration: N501L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501L-2013-07-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS SPECIAL
- Registry model: Pitts SPECIAL (registry code 72202KX, https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-special) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: L-1
- Airframe hours: 797
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: ROBERT M. VAGNER
- Departed: TMB, MIAMI, FL
- Airport: runway 0
- FAA reports: 19860407009989A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860407009989A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 39; private; medical class 3; hours: 20 90 days, 200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 10
- Temperature (°F): 78.8

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.