Pilot Debrief

PITTS S1C near Mount Washington, KY — 2025-10-06

Investigation ongoingERA26LA004
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Date
2025-10-06
Location
Mount Washington, KY, USA
Aircraft
PITTS S1C
Registration
C-FAZJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On October 6, 2025, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-1C Special, C-FAZJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Mt. Washington, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, Kentucky about 1400 and was following a Cessna 140 flown by a family member. They were destined for Middlesboro/Bell County Airport, Middlesboro, Kentucky. According to the pilot, while enroute, he applied power to the engine and noticed no change to engine performance. He reduced engine power, with no change in engine performance. The pilot informed the family member that he was having engine issues and asked him to declare a MAYDAY on his behalf with air traffic control. As the airplane descended, the pilot realized that the engine had lost all power and the propeller was windmilling. His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a narrow field and impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wings, fuselage, and empennage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Enroute
  • Engine Failure Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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