# Accident 19960804020599A: Child S1SPITTS, Pittsburgh, PA, August 4, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 4, 1996, 18:37 local time
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3598° N, 79.9002° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3598&lon=-79.9002&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2HT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2HT-2014-09-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S (registry code 0110301, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-special-s-1s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHILD S1SPITTS
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B4A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,625 total, 35 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD96FA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96FA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960804020599A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PERFORMING AEROBATICS, WENT INTO RIVER, WITNESS SAW PART OF WING BREAK OFF WHILE IN FLIGHT. (.4)THE PILOT RECEIVED CLEARANCE INTO THE APPROVED AIRSHOW AEROBATIC AIRSPACE, AND INITIATED HIS FIRST MANEUVER, A DOUBLE SNAP ROLL.  A VIDEO TAPE OF THE MANEUVER SHOWED A DEFORMATION OF THE LOWER LEFT WING WITHIN SECONDS OF INITIATION OF THE MANEUVER.  THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A FAILURE OF THE LEFT OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE UPPER WING.  BOTH THE FAILED LOWER LEFT WING AND THE FAILED UPPER LEFT OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE TOP WING DISPLACED AFT AGAINST THE EMPENNAGE.  THE VIDEO THEN CAPTURED THE AIRPLANE IN A DESCENT UNTIL WATER IMPACT IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE.  ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT UTILIZED AIRSPEEDS GREATER THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MANEUVERING AIRSPEEDS.  WITNESSES ALSO REPORTED SEEING THE 'G' METER IN THE COCKPIT AT HIGHER POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE READINGS THAN RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER.  THE PILOT HAD VOICED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS BECAUSE OF FLUTTER HE EXPERIENCED DURING RECENT FLIGHTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD96FA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96FA126), Aug 4, 1996: Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S (N2HT), Pittsburgh, PA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's utilization of airspeeds greater than the manufacturer recommended maneuvering airspeeds which exceed the design limits of the airplane and resulted in the subsequent failure of the wing…

## Other reports on N2HT (1)

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

- [Incident 19810817062169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810817062169I), Aug 17, 1981: Child S1SPITTS (N2HT), Latrobe, PA, Minor damage. Pilot attempting right turn during rollout aircraft flipped on back.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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