What happened
On August 12, 2025, at approximately 10:19 mountain standard time, a Pitts S-1T, registration N51HC, was involved in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The aircraft crashed in level desert terrain consisting of soft sand and shrubs, approximately 10 nautical miles south of the Goodyear Airport.
The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
Prior to the accident, a witness observed the pilot taxiing the aircraft at an unusually high speed. The witness noted the pilot was not wearing a headset and that a red "remove before flight" cover was still installed on the pitot tube. The pilot's spouse reportedly ran after the aircraft, expressing distress and stating that the pilot should not be flying due to medication. The witness also observed the aircraft depart from a taxiway after applying full power and briefly contacting the dirt between the taxiway and the runway. Airport security footage confirmed this departure sequence.
Radar data from the FAA showed a primary target departing from the vicinity of the Goodyear Airport and flying south. The final 14 seconds of radar data indicated the aircraft was increasing its bank angle in a left turn, which was consistent with a spiral pattern.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was distributed over approximately 100 feet. The engine was found inverted inside a three-foot-deep crater, exhibiting a large hole in the lower crankcase. The propeller hub remained attached to the crankshaft, though the blades were fractured and distributed around the crater. The tail section was folded forward over the fuselage. Due to the extensive crush damage and fragmentation, investigators were unable to confirm the continuity of the aircraft controls.
Information regarding the pilot's medical state was also reviewed. The pilot's spouse reported that the pilot had been suffering from severe insomnia following a trip to Europe and had recently started a new medication. On the day of the accident, the pilot intended to run the engine to charge the battery after retrieving medical paperwork from a nearby physician.