Aviat Pitts S-2B accident near Newport, PA
On April 24, 2003, an Aviat Pitts S-2B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Newport, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 24, 2003
- Place
- Newport, PA
- Aircraft
- Aviat Pitts S-2B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.517°N, 77.117°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030506X00623
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 24, 2003, about 1435 eastern daylight time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N6085U, was substantially damage when it impacted terrain near Newport, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot and the certificated commercial pilot were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that departed the Capitol City Airport (HGR), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a family member of the flight instructor, the intention of the flight was for the pilot to receive aerobatic flight instruction. Review of air traffic control records revealed that the airplane departed HGR about 1413. A witness, who was fishing in a creek located about 1,200 feet from the accident site, recalled hearing the airplane's engine revving and cutting out, typically as he would hear if aerobatics were being performed. After about 15 minutes of hearing the airplane, the witnesses attention was drawn to the airplane when he heard the engine rev, then begin to sputter. He looked up, and observed the airplane in a "flat spin." The airplane made three or four rotations, before descending below a tree line. The witness additionally stated that the engine continued to sputter until the airplane impacted the ground. The witness could not positively determine the height at which he first observed the airplane. A second witness, who resided near the accident site, recalled hearing an airplane about the time of the accident. The airplane was so close it shook the house. The e
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to perform aerobatics at a low altitude, which inhibited his ability to recover from an encountered flat spin. A factor related to the accident was the aft center of gravity, which was beyond the operational limit for the airplane.
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Browse: Pennsylvania · Aviat 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.
