Pitts S2 accident near New Orleans, LA
On August 16, 2019, a Pitts S2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near New Orleans, LA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 16, 2019
- Place
- New Orleans, LA
- Aircraft
- Pitts S2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.026°N, 90.030°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190816X21722
Official records · CEN19FA270
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Excerpt From FAA Accident Package With Summary Of New Tower And Pilot Communications Cen19fa270: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 16, 2019, about 1506 central daylight time, a Pitts S2B airplane, N600DF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The passenger, who was a TV news anchor, was filming a documentary about the pilot, which included a local flight in the pilot's aerobatic airplane. The footage captured the accident takeoff and ended when the airplane was established in level flight on the left downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 36. Control tower personnel reported that the pilot requested to return to the airport shortly after takeoff but did not specify the reason for returning. The tower controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 36R. A witness saw the airplane and described it as “unstable” and “wiggling,” and he said that the engine was sputtering. The airplane then impacted the ground. He ran over to the scene to try to help but the airplane burst into flames. Another witness was inside a trailer near the accident site. He saw the airplane through a window and saw a “red” streak go by the window and heard the crash. First responders located the airplane wreckage about 0.8 mile south of the airport. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane impacted the ground about 45° nose-down on a heading about 355° magnetic. A steel fence, railroad tracks, and power lines were adjacent to the crash site. There were depressions in the ground under the nose
Probable cause
A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
More accidents in LA
- Sikorsky S-76C, Jan 4, 2009
- Cessna 411A, May 8, 1986
- Piper PA 31T, Dec 28, 2019
- Beech E90, Jun 24, 2005
- Bell 206L-3, May 10, 1994
Browse: Louisiana · Pitts 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.
