Aerotek PITTS S-2A N73EW

Summary

On 20 September 1997 at about 18:15 local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2A registered N73EW was involved in an accident near San Marcos, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 1997 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

San Marcos, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

San Marcos Municipal (HYI)

Coordinates

29.8802, -97.9191

Aircraft

Aerotek PITTS S-2A

Registration

N73EW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA353

1 person died.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses at the airport reported that the fully aerobatic biplane impacted the infield area between runway 21 and the parallel taxiway in a near level attitude at a high rate of speed while recovering from a spin. 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 the right, and then entering a spin. One of the witnesses, an aerobatic judge who was not judging the airshow, stated that 'the pilot entered a snap roll maneuver with insufficient airspeed.' Witnesses reported that the engine was operating at a high power setting and the propeller was turning during the airplane's descent. Examination of the airframe by the FAA inspectors at the site did not disclose any evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.