Christen Industries Pitts S-2B accident near Weston, FL
On December 14, 2000, a Christen Industries Pitts S-2B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Weston, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 14, 2000
- Place
- Weston, FL
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries Pitts S-2B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 26.149°N, 80.635°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010110X00079
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 14, 2000, about 0952 eastern standard time, a Christen Pitts S-2B, N260DB, registered to, and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the Everglades, near Weston, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot in command, and the pilot/owner were fatally injured. The flight originated from Hollywood North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, about 0930. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract tower controller at the Hollywood North Perry Airport, at 0950, he received a radio communications transmission saying, "mayday mayday mayday pitts 260DB in an unrecoverable flat spin at 3,500 feet." In addition, a detective with the Broward County Sheriff's Office stated that a sheriff's office dispatcher received a cell telephone call from an unidentified motorist traveling along Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) about 0953, stating that he/she had just observed an aircraft crash into the Everglades, in the vicinity of the rest stop at mile marker 35. In addition, a detective with the Broward County Sheriff's Office stated that a sheriff's office dispatcher received a cell phone call from a motorist travelling along Interstate 75 about 0953, stating that he/she had just observed an airplane crash into the Everglades, but attempts by the NTSB to obtain the identity of the witness, with the assistance of the Broward Sheriff's Office, have all been unsuccessful. The aircraft was
Probable cause
An inflight loss of control by both pilots while maneuvering, which resulted in an inverted flat spin, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with terrain/water. A factor contributing to the accident was the failure of both pilots to ensure that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity limitations had not been exceeded.
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Browse: Florida · Christen aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
