Smithgall Pitts Special S-1C N7VC
7 May 1989 · Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 May 1989 at about 21:20 local time, a Smithgall Pitts Special S-1C registered N7VC, operated by Vernon L. COX, was involved in an accident near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.7200, -78.8393
- Aircraft
- Smithgall Pitts Special S-1C
- Registration
- N7VC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Vernon L. COX
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Raleigh → Apex
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL89DMG03
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO INSURE RECOVERY FROM AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AND SPIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER WHICH CULMINATED IN A SPIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A POSITION FROM WHICH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. WHILE STILL DESCENDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CRAWL AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT BEGAN BURNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150F | Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150 | New Bern, North Carolina, United States | Air East | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1989 | Cessna A185F | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | James E. Woodcock | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C | Troy, North Carolina, United States | Morgan, Kenneth H. | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 May 1989 | Cessna 172N | Fuquay, North Carolina, United States | House, Harper H. | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1989 | Cessna 177 | Indian Trail, North Carolina, United States | Ronald Stiles | Serious injuries | - |