Aerotek PITTS S-2A accident near San Marcos, TX
On September 20, 1997, an Aerotek PITTS S-2A (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Marcos, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 20, 1997
- Place
- San Marcos, TX
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-2A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.880°N, 97.919°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08848
NTSB summary
On September 20, 1997, at 1315 central daylight time, an Aerotek Pitts S-2A aerobatic biplane, N73EW, was destroyed following a loss of control while performing aerobatic maneuvers near San Marcos, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Kaimana Airshows Inc., of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerobatic demonstration flight which originated from the San Marcos Municipal Airport approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. The airplane was performing at the Sixth Annual Confederate Air Force Airshow at the San Marcos Municipal Airport (HYI). The airshow, titled "Gathering of Memories Airshow," was sponsored by the Central Texas Wing of the Confederate Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas. The airport manager stated that the accident occurred while the pilot was performing an aerobatic routine as part of the opening ceremonies of the airshow, which was attended by approximately 15,000 spectators. Witnesses at the airshow reported that prior to the accident the biplane had been performing an aerobatic routine for 12 to 15 minutes. The airplane made a high speed pass across the field from west to east at an estimated altitude of 200 feet AGL, followed by a near vertical climb to approximately 2,000 feet AGL. At that point the airplane was observed rolling inverted while on a westerly heading. The airplane was then observed rolling to the upright position, immediately performing a snap roll to
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control while performing aerobatics resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was the lack of altitude available for recovery.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
