# NTSB ERA21FA318: Pitts 12, N112JH, Ocklawaha, FL, August 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: August 9, 2021, 16:56 local (20:56 UTC) - Place: Ocklawaha, FL · Lake Weir - Coordinates: 29.025393, -81.947834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0254&lon=-81.9478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21FA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103662/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103662 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA318 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while performing aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in an inverted flat spin from which he was unable to recover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [R H W PITTS MOD 12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05612Y6), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [R H W PITTS MOD 12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05612Y6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [R H W PITTS MOD 12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05612Y6), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed on a local flight and were performing aerobatic maneuvers over a lake. Flight track data indicated that the pilot performed at least three loops; the data ended as the airplane was climbing and beginning a descent. Witnesses report seeing the airplane in a spiral as it entered the lake. Recorded video of the accident showed the airplane in an inverted flat spin, which was followed by a nose-down spin to water contact. The engine was heard continuously operating throughout the video until water impact. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preaccident malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation. Overall, the flight track data, witness observations, and video indicated that the pilot lost control of the airplane while he was likely attempting another aerobatic maneuver. Furthermore, a pilot who flew with the accident pilot when he first purchased the airplane (1 year before the accident) offered to provide flight training to the accident pilot, but the pilot declined, stating that the training was too expensive and that he knew how to fly an airplane. Because the pilot’s logbook was not found, the investigation was unable to determine the pilot’s total flight experience in the airplane make and model and whether that played a role in the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 9, 2021, about 1656 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Pitts Model 12, N112JH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ocklawaha, Florida. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was conducting a local aerobatic flight. According to flight track data, the airplane completed three loops and then entered a climb and descent, at which point the data ended. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the airplane “spiraling” toward the water, but none reported seeing the airplane before that point. One witness recorded cell phone video of the airplane that showed the airplane in an inverted flat spin, which was followed by a nose-down spin and contact with the lake. The video also recorded the sound of the engine operating continuously until the airplane impacted the water. The pilot and passenger were wearing parachutes, and the pilot was observed jumping from the airplane at a low altitude. The video did not capture the pilot’s parachute deploying before water contact, but witnesses stated that the parachute was open and floating in the water. Furthermore, the sound of the engine was continuous until the airplane impacted the water. Multiple witness reported seeing the airplane spiraling towards the water, but none reported seeing the airplane prior to that. PILOT INFORMATION The pilot’s personal logbook was not located. According to a ferry pilot, the pilot bought the airplane about 1 year before the accident, and he hired the ferry pilot to help him move the airplane to his home airport at that time. The ferry pilot provided a statement that detailed the time that he and the accident pilot spent in the airplane. The ferry pilot stated that the accident pilot was “all over with the rudder during the takeoff.” They performed two landings at the destination airport before completing the flight. The ferry pilot offered to provide flight instruction, but the accident pilot declined and said, “I know how to fly an airplane and you are too expensive.” The ferry pilot thought that the accident flight was the first time that the pilot had flown the airplane with a passenger. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the wood and fabric wings were destroyed by the impact with the water. The fuselage remained intact and was impact damaged. The rudder and elevator remained attached to the fuselage. The left elevator was displaced 90° down. Flight control continuity was established from the rudder and elevator to the control stick in the cockpit. The throttle control was full forward, and the propeller control was mid-range. About 6 ft of the upper wing was impact damaged but remained attached by cables, the aileron remained attached to the wing, and the control rod was fractured. Other wing pieces were found floating in the largedebris field in the water. The engine was impact damaged but remained attached to the airframe by cables and wires. The front spark plugs in the radial engine were fractured; the rear spark plugs were removed and showed normal wear signatures. Several push rods were impact separated. The rear accessory case was impact damaged, and several components were separated. The propeller remained attached to the engine, but all three propeller blades were separated at the hub. The engine rotated smoothly by hand at the propeller flange, and continuity was established throughout the engine. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N112JH), registered now, S/N 109, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PITTS 12 - Registry model: [R H W PITTS MOD 12](https://openairdocs.org/model/r-h-w-pitts-mod-12) (registry code 05612Y6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 109 - Year built: 2002 - Engines: Vedeneyev M14P/PF 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FC04, Ocala, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,966 total - Pilot-rated passenger; age 72; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 16 nm away - METAR: KLEE 091753Z 14004KT 10SM CLR 33/24 A3014 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E AND SE SLP205 T03330239 10339 20267 58009 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210809013629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210809013629A), Aug 9, 2021: R H W Ltd PITTS MOD 12, Oklawaha, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft impacted the water and was totally destroyed. Video from a witness source shows the aircraft on a spin. ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103662. 9.3 MB in all. - Witness statements (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14292174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Ferry pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296351&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Wolf_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness video (item 3, MOV, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14290358&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Witness%20Video-Rel.mov - Google earth flight track figures (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14399164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21FA318%20Flight%20Track%20Figures-Rel.pdf - Statement from local agencies (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14393117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20MCSO%20Detectives-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination report (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291220&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Adsb tabular data (item 7, XLSX, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14290895&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20210809_A03471_461825242_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - Autopsy memorandum for record (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14392284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14027804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 10, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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.