# Accident 20040925026179A: Amtr PITTSS2E, Hanover, IN, September 25, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2004, 17:00 local time
- Place: Hanover, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7000° N, 85.4667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7000&lon=-85.4667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8005X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8005X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ernst Robert E PITTS S2E (registry code 72217C5, https://openairdocs.org/model/ernst-robert-e-pitts-s2e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR PITTSS2E
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 637 total, 220 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040925026179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N8005X DEPARTED MORAINE, CARROLTON COUNTY AIRPORT, OH (I72) AT 1700Z VFR TO 64I WITH NO ENROUTE STOPS AND ARRIVED AT 64I APPROXIMATELY 1745-1800Z TO ATTEND FLY IN. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM RWY 36 AT 64I AT ABOUT 2200Z, REMAINING IN PATTERN FOR SHORT TIME PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING APPROACH TO RWY 36 AT WHICH TIME ACCIDENT OCCURRED. FUEL ON BOARD WAS APPROXIMATE 15 TO 16 GALLONS, WITH APPROX 5 GALLONS OF SMOKE OIL WITH TWO OCCUPANTS, 210 LBS IN FRONT SEAT 200 LBS IN REAR (PIC), EACH WITH APPROXIMATELY A 15-POUND PARACHUTE. MOST CURRENT AIRCRAFT WT AND BALANCE INFO UNAVAILABLE. HOWEVER, INTERIM WT AND CG CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 110-140 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT FOR AEROBATICS WITH CG AT REAR OR OUT OF REAR LIMIT. CALCULATIONS BASED ON CANOPY THAT WAS INSTALLED ABOUT JULY 2004 (NO ENTRY IN LOG BOOKS). EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT AIRCRAFT MAY HAVE BEEN PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS CLOSE TO GROUND JUST PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. AIRCRAFT REPORTED TO BE IN AN APPROXIMATELY 45-DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE IN A STEEP DESCENT ANGLE AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A NORTHERLY HEADING. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A WIDE ONE LANE WSW TO ENE ORIENTED ROAD JUST SOUTH OF AND SLIGHTLY TO THE EAST OF THE EXTENSION OF THE CENTERLINE OF RUNWAY 36-18 OF LEE BOTTOM FIELD (64I). BROKEN TREE LIMBS OF THE TOPS OF APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 FOOT HIGH TREES, TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD, INDICATE THAT AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THEM PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE DIRT SHOULDER OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. AIRCRAFT STOPPED WITH NOSE POINTED IN A SOUTHERLY ORIENTATION. HANOVER FIRE DEPARTMENT DID EXTRACT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER BY CUTTING AROUND COCKPIT AREA AND REMOVED THE RIGHT UPPER WING. INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT BY AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED NO STRUCTURAL FAILURES. CONTINUITY OF ELEVATOR CONTROLS WAS CONFIRMED. HOWEVER, CONTINUITY OF RUDDER AND AILERON CONTROLS COULD NOT BE ASCERTAINED DUE TO CONDITION OF WRECKAGE. CONDITION OF PROPELLER INDICATES ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER AT TIME OF IMPACT AND NO WITNESS STATEMENTS MADE COMMENT ABOUT UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISES. AIRCRAFT IS BEING HELD BY JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF AT M&M WRECKING IN HANOVER, IN IN SECURED AREA UNTIL RELEASE. PIC INTERVIEWED ON THURSDAY, OCT 7TH. PIC STATED THAT HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE MANEUVER BEING PERFORMED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, HE DID RECALL THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND TO AN ELEVATOR CONTROLS INPUTDURING AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE PITCH ATTITUDE. PIC WAS COOPERATIVE IN PROVIDING PILOT, ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT LOGS, AND MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTATION. PILOT, MEDICAL, AIRWORTHINESS, REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES, AND WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. ALSO, PARACHUTE INSPECTION LOG WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UNABLE TO INTERVIEW FRONT SEAT PAX WHO IS STILL IN HOSPITAL.

## 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 CHI04LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA279), Sep 25, 2004: Ernst Pitts S2E (N8005X), Hanover, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the trees and terrain during the aerobatic maneuver. Contributing factors were the pilot's decision to perform a low-level, ostentatious aerobatic display…

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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