- Date
- May 26, 1994, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Keystone Height, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N61PSPitts S2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940526017709A
- Case key
- 37556
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 pilot-in-command's exceeding of the design limitations of the airplane.
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 doing acrobatic flight the pilot heard a noise and landed. Examination of the airplane revealed 2 failed longerons. The pilot stated he had heard a similar noise about 3 weeks earlier.
Factual narrative
On May 26, 1994, about 1330 eastern daylight time, N61PS, Pitts S2B, registered to the pilot David J. Swartz experienced a structural failure in flight near Keystone Heights, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 acrobatic flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Keystone Heights Airport about 45 minutes earlier.
The pilot stated that while performing acrobatic maneuvers he heard a loud noise. After landing, the airplane was inspected and a structural longeron was found broken in two places. The pilot stated he had heard a similar noise about 3 weeks earlier.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61PS
- Reported as
- Pitts S2B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5230
- Airframe hours
- 720
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Swartz, David J.
- Registered owner
- Swartz, David J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 7, 1993 · 140 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 859 total · 354 in this make and model · 721 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GNV, 24 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.
Other investigations on N61PS · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.