# Accident 19971207037391A: Aviat PITTSS2B, Bozeman, MT, December 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 1997, 14:53 local time
- Place: Bozeman, MT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7698° N, 110.9301° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7698&lon=-110.9301&mi=10
- Aircraft: N693SB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N693SB-1998-09-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Christen Industries PITTS S-2B (registry code 2210006, https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT PITTSS2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971207037391A

## Narrative

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

ACFT COLLIDED IN MID AIR WITH N2664X, PILOTSUFFERED FATAL INJ AND ACFT WAS DESTROYED. BOZEMAN, MT. (.4)A WITNESS OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT PERFORMING AEROBATICS NEAR MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.  ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED SEEING A PITTS 'TIPPING ITS WINGS (STRAIGHT ON ITS SIDE) ONE WAY, THEN THE OTHER.'  THIS SAME WITNESS OBSERVED THE PITTS CONTINUE NORTH 'DOING TRICKS, WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT STRAIGHT DOWN.'  A CESSNA WAS FLYING BY GALLATIN FIELD (BOZEMAN, MT) ON AN AIRWAY, AND REPORTED THAT HE WAS 7,700 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) AND CLIMBING.  A WITNESS OBSERVED THE CESSNA FLYING EASTBOUND AND THE PITTS CLOSING ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ON THE STARBOARD FORWARD QUARTER.  THE WITNESS WATCHED BOTH PLANES FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS, UNTIL IMPACT 'BOTH PLANES MAINTAINED LEVEL FLIGHT AND NEITHER MADE ANY TURNS OR ABRUPT MANEUVERS.'  VICTOR AIRWAYS ARE LOW ROUTE AREA NAVIGATION TRACKS WHICH EXTEND UPWARD FROM 1,200 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH TO, BUT NOT INCLUDING, 18,000 FEET MSL.  THEY EXTEND HORIZONTALLY 4 NAUTICAL MILES ON EACH SIDE OF THE AIRWAYS CENTER LINE.  AEROBATIC MANEUVERS ARE PROHIBITED OVER ANY CONGESTED AREA OF A CITY, TOWN,                                                    OR SETTLEMENT AND WITHIN 4 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE CENTER LINE OF ANY FEDERAL AIRWAY.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N2664X, Cessna P206A: [Accident 19971207037392A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971207037392A)

## 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 FTW98FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA063), Dec 7, 1997: Pitts S-2B (N693SB), Bozeman, MT, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout. Factors were the pilot of N693SB not following procedures and directives, and the pilot of N693SB using poor judgment.

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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