# NTSB DEN91LA074: Pitts S-2B, N603SB, Albuquerque, NM, May 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1991, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.1449° N, 106.7952° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DOUBLE EAGLE II (AEG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1449&lon=-106.7952&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18090/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA074

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF THE NUMBER THREE AIRPLANE, IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR TAXIING AFTER LANDING, MOMENTARILY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE NUMBER TWO AIRPLANE AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH ITS TAIL.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE PILOT OF THE NUMBER THREE AIRPLANE, IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR TAXIING AFTER LANDING, MOMENTARILY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE NUMBER TWO AIRPLANE AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH ITS TAIL.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N603SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N603SB), registered now, S/N 5035 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pitts S-2B
- Registry model: [Pitts Aerobatics S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-aerobatics-s-2b) (registry code 7220450) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5035
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: National Airshows, Inc.
- Registered owner: National Airshows, Inc.
- Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N602SB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Pitts S-2B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5027
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: National Airshows, Incn.
- Registered owner: National Airshows, Incn.
- Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N603SB; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,283 total, 375 in this make and model, 5,261 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N602SB; age 31; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,070 total, 950 in this make and model, 5,878 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910516016461A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910516016461A), May 16, 1991: Child S2BPITTS, Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. Taxied into tail of other S2B,N602SB,that was stopped waiting for another S2B to clear. Flight of 4 airshow team.
- [Accident 19910516016462A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910516016462A), May 16, 1991: Child S2BPITTS, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. While stopped on taxiway was struck in tail by other S2B,N603SB,that was taxiing behind. Was part of 4 airshow team

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.