# NTSB FTW88DPJ04: Aerotek Pitts S-2A, N8076, Elk City, OK, April 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1988, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Elk City, OK
- Coordinates: 35.399017, -99.409378 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3990&lon=-99.4094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DPJ04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22454/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DPJ04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED DOING AEROBATICS.  A STALL/SPIN WAS INITIATED FROM A CLIMBING VERTICAL ATTITUDE. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY THE PILOT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO SPIN TO GROUND IMPACT. NO AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8076](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8076-1991-04-15), registration cancelled 1991-04-15, S/N 2129 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerotek PITTS S-2A
- Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS S-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s-2a) (registry code 0110201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2129
- Airframe hours: 534
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tom Batson/Robert Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1987, 31 hours before
- Departed: ELK, OK
- Destination: ELK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,784 total, 164 in this make and model, 5,112 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880410008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880410008099A), Apr 10, 1988: Child S2APITTS, Elk City, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed during inverted spin. Had been practicing acrobatics. Reason for non recovery may have been low skill level

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.

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