Aerotek PITTS - S2S accident near Clarksville, VA
On September 25, 1995, an Aerotek PITTS - S2S (airplane) was involved in an accident near Clarksville, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 25, 1995
- Place
- Clarksville, VA
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS - S2S · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.620°N, 78.559°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04557
NTSB summary
On September 25, 1995, about 1214 eastern daylight time, an Aerotek, Pitts S2S, N260HP, registered to a private owner, experienced an in-flight loss of control and crashed near Clarksville, Virginia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated at 1038 from the Oceana Naval Air Station, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The pilot's wingman stated that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the accident airplane to Alexandria, Louisiana, where an airshow was scheduled. Before departure both pilots watched the TV weather channel in their hotel. After departure while flying in formation between layers of clouds, both pilots elected to divert due to adverse weather ahead. While proceeding to the alternate airport, the lead airplane pilot observed clouds ahead and deviated to maintain VFR. The pilot of the accident airplane which was flying above, behind, and to the left of his airplane advised him that his flight had encountered IMC conditions and the airspeed was increasing. The accident pilot advised him that he was "punching out." The pilot of the lead airplane tried unsuccessfully to contact the accident pilot. The pilot of the lead airplane squawked 7700 on his transponder and flew an orbit looking for the accident airplane but was unable to locate the wreckage. The pilot of the lead airplane then landed at a nearby airport. The wreckage was located the following day in a woo
Probable cause
continued flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in spatial disorientation and his inability to control the airplane. The weather condition and the lack of instruments in the airplane were related factors.
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Browse: Virginia
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
