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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 2, 1990 · Stits SA-3A Playboy SA-3A PLAY · N434K

Bartlesville, OK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 2, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bartlesville, OK
Aircraft
Stits SA-3A Playboy SA-3A PLAY
Tail Number
N434K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW90DPJ06

WITNESSES IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF AND BEGIN A SHARP LEFT CLIMBING TURN AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED ONE TURN BEFORE IMPACT. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED SEEING RUDDER INPUT PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT. MOST OF THE PILOT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS LOGGED PRIOR TO 1971. IN THE SUMMER OF 1988 HE GOT N434K RECERTIFIED, WHICH WAS BUILT BY THE PILOT IN 1957, AND OBTAINED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE ANY FLIGHT ACTIVITY SINCE 9/20/89, ALTHOUGH IT WAS REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF AND BEGIN A SHARP LEFT CLIMBING TURN AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED ONE TURN BEFORE IMPACT. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED SEEING RUDDER INPUT PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT. MOST OF THE PILOT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS LOGGED PRIOR TO 1971. IN THE SUMMER OF 1988 HE GOT N434K RECERTIFIED, WHICH WAS BUILT BY THE PILOT IN 1957, AND OBTAINED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE ANY FLIGHT ACTIVITY SINCE 9/20/89, ALTHOUGH IT WAS REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 CDT
Nearest AirportFrank Phillips (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length6200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftStits SA-3A Playboy SA-3A PLAY
Tail NumberN434K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · YO-200-1 · Reciprocating · 90
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data