# NTSB SEA88FA060: Pitts S-1C, N6389, Carson City, NV, March 19, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 1988, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.140232, -119.710929 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1402&lon=-119.7109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 40718 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40718/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA060 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - exterior light(s) - not installed (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - exterior light(s) - not installed (contributing factor) - comm/nav equipment,transceiver - not installed (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) UPON RETURNING TO THE CARSON AIRPORT, N3545 (NIEUPORT) APPROACHED FROM THE SOUTH AND EXECUTED A 45 DEGREE ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 27. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD TO RUNWAY 27, AND AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, N3545 COLLIDED WITH N6389 (PITTS S- 1C). IMPACT MARKS INDICATED THAT N6389 STRUCK THE UPPER LEFT WING OF N3545 WITH ITS WHEELS. THE LOWER RIGHT WING OF N6389 THEN DISINTEGRATED AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE PROPELLER ARC OF N3545. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ANY POSITION, ANTICOLLISION OR STROBE LIGHTS AND N3545 WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE RADIO CALLS CITING N6389'S POSITION ON BASE AND FINAL. ALTHOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BIPLANE (EQUIPPED WITH UPPER AND LOWER WINGS) IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS DESIGN HAD ANY BEARING IN OBSTRUCTING EITHER PILOT'S VIEW OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) UPON ARRIVAL AT THE CARSON ARPT, N6389 (PITTS S-1C) CIRCLED OVERHEAD & THEN DESCENDED TO TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT BROADCAST VIA VHF HIS LOCATION AND INTENTION ON BASE AND FINAL. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD TO RUNWAY 27, AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, N6389 COLLIDED WITH N3545 (NIEUPORT). IMPACT MARKS INDICATED THAT N6389 STRUCK THE UPPER LEFT WING OF N3545 WITH ITS WHEELS. THE LOWER RIGHT WING OF N6389 THEN DISINTEGRATED AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE PROPELLER ARC OF N3545. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ANY POSITION, ANTICOLLISION OR STROBE LIGHTS. ALTHOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BIPLANES (EQUIPPED WITH UPPER AND LOWER WINGS) IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS DESIGN HAD ANY BEARING IN OBSTRUCTING EITHER PILOT'S VIEW OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N6389](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6389-1990-08-15), registration cancelled 1990-08-15, S/N RDG1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PITTS S-1C - Registry model: [George PITTS SPECIAL S-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/george-pitts-special-s-1c) (registry code 7221104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RDG1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred L. Michel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 1987 - Departed: 4SD, RENO, NV - Destination: O04, CARSON CITY, NV - Airport: O04, Carson Airport, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N3545](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3545-1993-08-05), registration cancelled 1993-08-05, S/N 113 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KITCHEN NEIUPORT 24 BIS (NEIUPORT 2) - Registry model: [Kitchen Ronald J 1917 NUEPORT 24 REP](https://openairdocs.org/model/kitchen-ronald-j-1917-nueport-24-rep) (registry code 0566377) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 113 - Airframe hours: 166 - Engines: WARNER SS-50A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald J. Kitchen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1987, 6 hours before - Departed: O04, CARSON CITY, NV - Airport: O04, Carson Airport, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6389; 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; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,968 total, 8 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N3545; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,280 total, 105 in this make and model, 1,280 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19880319039061A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880319039061A), Mar 19, 1988: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C, Carson City, NV, Destroyed. Came in on top of a nieuport N3545 and struck its top wing. Both on final. Crashed and burned. Neither saw other. - [Accident 19880319039062A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880319039062A), Mar 19, 1988: Amtr NIEUPORT24, Carson City, NV, Destroyed. Was struck from above by a pitts,N6389. Both on final to runway. Neither saw the other. No radio in the nieuport. 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.