# NTSB MKC69F0027: Stits SA3A, N8680E, Festus, MO, June 15, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 15, 1968
- Place: Festus, MO · FESTUS, MO
- Location: 38.2192° N, 90.4098° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Festus, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2192&lon=-90.4098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 109660
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC69F0027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69F0027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4869  68/6/15    FESTUS,MO           STITS SA3A          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1525                    N8680E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 35, 700 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            35 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FESTUS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: WING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS,BOLTS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: BRACING WIRES,STRUTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POOR WELD
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- R WING STRUTS FAILED AT FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT POINTS.NO PENETRATION OF WELD AT FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8680E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8680E-1968-07-30), registration cancelled 1968-07-30, S/N SS-101, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STITS SA3A
- Registry model: [Stits SA3A PLAYBOY](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-sa3a-playboy) (registry code 86502KF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Festus

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.