- Date
- July 6, 1991, 16:43 local (20:43 UTC)
- Place
- Eustis, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N31427Aerotek PITTS-S2A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910706026219A
- Case key
- 32899
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of elevator control in flight due to a screwdriver jamming the elevator control for unknown causes.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While performing aerobatics the pilot noted he had lost elevator control. He was able to raise the nose slightly during the descent and executed a partially controlled forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that a screwdriver was jammed in the elevator bellcrank. The circumstances that caused the screwdriver to be in the airplane or the owner of the screwdriver were not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31427
- Reported as
- Aerotek PITTS-S2A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2159
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael K. Goodman
- Registered owner
- Michael K. Goodman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Military, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,359 total · 88 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Observed at
- MCO, 13 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.