Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 28, 1986 · Spencer Pitts S-1 · N66D

Mckinney, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Mckinney, TX
Aircraft
Spencer Pitts S-1
Tail Number
N66D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW86FA049

AS A PITTS SPECIAL, N66D, WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LND, A CESSNA L-19E TOWPLANE, N4431B, WAS ON THE 1300' GRASS OVERRUN NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY WITH A GLIDER BEING READIED FOR TOW. THE GLIDER (SAILPLANE) WAS A GROB 103, N226BG.THE PLT OF THE PITTS STATED HE NOTICED SVRL GLIDERS & TOWPLANES PARKED ON/NEAR THE OVERRUN, BUT SINCE THE USUAL PRACTICEWAS TO PARK SUCH ACFT IN THAT AREA, HE DID NOT CONSIDER THEIR PRESENCE AN INDCN OF IMMINENT TAKEOFF. AS THE PITTS CONTD ON FINAL APCH, THE TOWPLANE & GLIDER STARTED TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER THE TOWPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT & THE PITTS CONVERGEDVERTICALLY & COLLIDED. THE PITTS THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DSCNT & CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, BUT THE PLTWAS SECURED IN THE ACFT BY A 5 POINT HARNESS & A LAP BELT & SURVIVED. THE TOWPLANE'S LEFT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLANE CONTD FLYING & LNDD SAFELY. RPRTDLY, THE WING WALKER FOR THE GLIDER WAS INEXPERIENCED & DID NOT CONFIRM THE LNDG TRAFFIC OR SIGNAL FOR THE TOWPLT TO DELAY THE TAKEOFF.

Full Narrative

AS A PITTS SPECIAL, N66D, WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LND, A CESSNA L-19E TOWPLANE, N4431B, WAS ON THE 1300' GRASS OVERRUN NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY WITH A GLIDER BEING READIED FOR TOW. THE GLIDER (SAILPLANE) WAS A GROB 103, N226BG.THE PLT OF THE PITTS STATED HE NOTICED SVRL GLIDERS & TOWPLANES PARKED ON/NEAR THE OVERRUN, BUT SINCE THE USUAL PRACTICEWAS TO PARK SUCH ACFT IN THAT AREA, HE DID NOT CONSIDER THEIR PRESENCE AN INDCN OF IMMINENT TAKEOFF. AS THE PITTS CONTD ON FINAL APCH, THE TOWPLANE & GLIDER STARTED TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER THE TOWPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT & THE PITTS CONVERGEDVERTICALLY & COLLIDED. THE PITTS THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DSCNT & CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, BUT THE PLTWAS SECURED IN THE ACFT BY A 5 POINT HARNESS & A LAP BELT & SURVIVED. THE TOWPLANE'S LEFT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLANE CONTD FLYING & LNDD SAFELY. RPRTDLY, THE WING WALKER FOR THE GLIDER WAS INEXPERIENCED & DID NOT CONFIRM THE LNDG TRAFFIC OR SIGNAL FOR THE TOWPLT TO DELAY THE TAKEOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 CST
Nearest AirportAero Country (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length2950 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSpencer Pitts S-1
Tail NumberN66D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200 | Continental · O-470-11 · Reciprocating · 213
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 35 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data