19951008036179A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtrpt PITTSSPECS2S · Chicago/Waukega, IL · October 8, 1995

Date: October 8, 1995 · 12:17 local
Place: Chicago/Waukega, IL
Airport: Waukegan Regional Airport
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N61AC
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI96FA005
Reported as: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS2S
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540D4A5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,457 total33 in this make and model94 in the last 90 days

N61ACRegistration cancelled Mar 19, 1997 · Blatter Richard PITTS S2SS/N 001 Airframe modelBlatter Richard PITTS S2S

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Collided with runway during series of low level rolls. Over gross weight. Aft center gravity. Low skill level. (-23) on October 8, 1995, at approximately 1217 CDT, Mr. Phillip d. smith, PIC of pitts S2S, N61AC, sustained fatal injuries when attempting to execute an aerobatic maneuver without sufficient altitude to recover while performing at the Waukegan air show, Waukegan Regional Airport (ugn), Waukegan, IL. The investigation is in progress by the NTSB.

As the FAA filed it

COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY DURING SERIES OF LOW LEVEL ROLLS. OVER GROSS WEIGHT. AFT CENTER GRAVITY. LOW SKILL LEVEL. (-23) ON OCTOBER 8, 1995, AT APPROXIMATELY 1217 CDT, MR. PHILLIP D. SMITH, PIC OF PITTS S2S, N61AC, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER WHILE PERFORMING AT THE WAUKEGAN AIR SHOW, WAUKEGAN REGIONAL AIRPORT (UGN), WAUKEGAN, IL. THE INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS BY THE NTSB.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI96FA005Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWaukegan, ILthe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the aerobatic maneuver. Factors associated with the accident were: an improper weight and balance with a center of gravity aft of the rear limit, the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability, and…Oct 8, 1995 · Destroyed

Other reports on N61AC · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19840729044229ILevel Off Touchdown · Centralia, ILDamaged the aircraft on a hard landing. Blamed a gusty wind and downdrafts.Jul 29, 1984 · Reported as Amtrpt PITTSSPECS2S · Minor damage