Amateur-built PITTS SPECIAL S-1 N292Y accident near Madison, Georgia

Preliminary information

On September 29, 2026, at about 1347 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Pitts Special S-1, N292Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Madison, Georgia. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, on the day of the accident, he planned to fly from Madison Municipal Airport (52A), Madison, Georgia, to Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field (FFC), Atlanta, Georgia to retrieve an airplane part. The pilot indicated the flight from 52A to FFC was uneventful, and after obtaining the airplane part, he departed for the return flight to 52A.

Shortly after the pilot began his descent toward 52A, the airplane suddenly experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot turned on the airplane’s fuel boost pump, but when that failed to restore engine power, he began looking for a suitable area to perform a forced landing. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane toward a clearing, the engine briefly “revved up” two or three times before losing power again.

The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in the front yard of a residence. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot stated that, after he extracted himself from the airplane, he saw fuel pouring out of the airplane’s fuel tank.

The airplane was recovered to a secure storage facility for examination.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for WPR26LA362 for the full record.