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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

December 17, 1994 · Timothy J Brown Pitts S2SE · N604SB

Grand Prairie, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 17, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Grand Prairie, TX
Aircraft
Timothy J Brown Pitts S2SE
Tail Number
N604SB
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW95LA067

AFTER A LOSS OF POWER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A SOFT, MUDDY FIELD. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE 'TUMBLED' AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING TO A ROAD; HOWEVER; HE 'ELECTED' TO LAND IN THE FIELD WHEN HE 'OBSERVED VEHICULAR TRAFFIC' ON THE ROAD. TWO SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUNS WERE PERFORMED AFTER RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE THROUGH RPM RANGES 200- 2800.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Full Narrative

On December 17, 1994, approximately 1420 central standard time, a Pitts S2SE, N604SB, was destroyed during a forced landing near Grand Prairie, Texas. The private pilot received serious injuries. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. The airplane departed Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (F67), Grand Prairie, Texas, approximately 1400, to practice aerobatics with another aircraft. The pilot reported in a written statement that after 5 minutes of practicing aerobatics, he "experienced a loss of power for approximately 2-3 seconds." After the loss of power he started to return to F67 and experienced another "loss of power." The pilot then "switched to the auxiliary tank and the engine caught and ran smoothly." After 3-4 minutes there was "another loss of power", at which time the pilot "switched back to the main tank." The engine "caught momentarily" and then "lost power again." After an unsuccessful restart attempt, the pilot "set up for a forced landing." The pilot of the other aircraft asked him where he was going to land. The pilot responded that he was going to put it in "this field" and then said, "I'm going to try to put it on this road." The airplane subsequently impacted in a soft, muddy field. The pilot of the other aircraft stated that the airplane "seemed to tumble" when it contacted the ground. After the accident, the pilot reported that as he was "setting up" to land on the road, he "observed vehicular traffic" on the road and "elected" to execute the landing in the field. Two successful engine runs were performed after the accident. The engine started normally on both runs and operated normally through ranges of 200 to 2800 RPM. Manifold pressures were observed to be normal and consistent throughout the RPM ranges. Magnetos had impulse during checks at 1500, 2000, and 2500 RPM. Fuel spills were observed at the accident site and ground scars were confined to an area within 20 feet of the wreckage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:20 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTimothy J Brown Pitts S2SE
Tail NumberN604SB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data