# NTSB MIA95LA237: Aerotek Pitts - S2S, N260HP, Clarksville, VA, September 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1995, 12:14 local (16:14 UTC) - Place: Clarksville, VA - Coordinates: 36.620208, -78.559043 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6202&lon=-78.5590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA237 ## Probable cause continued flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in spatial disorientation and his inability to control the airplane. The weather condition and the lack of instruments in the airplane were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - flight/nav instruments - not installed (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis While en route to position the airplane for an airshow, the instrument-rated pilot continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an airplane that was not equipped with an attitude indicator, turn coordinator, or directional gyro. The accident pilot advised the pilot who was flying in formation that his airspeed was increasing. Subsequently, the airplane impacted in a wooded area while in a steep descent. An examination of the pilot's log book revealed evidence that he had flown in marginal weather conditions in the accident airplane on previous occasions. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1995, about 1214 eastern daylight time, an Aerotek, Pitts S2S, N260HP, registered to a private owner, experienced an in-flight loss of control and crashed near Clarksville, Virginia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated at 1038 from the Oceana Naval Air Station, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The pilot's wingman stated that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the accident airplane to Alexandria, Louisiana, where an airshow was scheduled. Before departure both pilots watched the TV weather channel in their hotel. After departure while flying in formation between layers of clouds, both pilots elected to divert due to adverse weather ahead. While proceeding to the alternate airport, the lead airplane pilot observed clouds ahead and deviated to maintain VFR. The pilot of the accident airplane which was flying above, behind, and to the left of his airplane advised him that his flight had encountered IMC conditions and the airspeed was increasing. The accident pilot advised him that he was "punching out." The pilot of the lead airplane tried unsuccessfully to contact the accident pilot. The pilot of the lead airplane squawked 7700 on his transponder and flew an orbit looking for the accident airplane but was unable to locate the wreckage. The pilot of the lead airplane then landed at a nearby airport. The wreckage was located the following day in a wooded area. Examination of the accident site by an FAA inspector revealed evidence that the airplane descended near vertical while rotating about the longitudinal axis. The pitot tube was observed to be imbedded vertically in the ground. Further examination beyond cursory of the wreckage was not performed. An on-scene examination was not performed by the NTSB. According to the pilot of the lead airplane, the accident airplane was not equipped with either a gyroscopic attitude indicator, a turn coordinator, or a directional gyro. The airplane was equipped with a compass, airspeed indicator, altimeter, and a digital tachometer. Review of FAA records indicate that the accident pilot had been issued an instrument rating. Review of the accident pilot's Pilot Logbook revealed entries which indicate in the remarks section "...first w/ scuds keep yer speed...scary scud 0-0 low level & between layers." A post-mortem examination of the pilot was performed by Elizabeth Kinnison, M.D., Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Richmond, Virginia. The cause of death was listed as total body fragmentation due to airplane crash. A toxicology analysis was performed by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and the Division of Forensic Science, Commonwealth of Virginia. The results of analysis by the AFIP were positive for acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, propanol, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine. Moderate putrefaction was noted. Analysis by the Commenwealth of Virginia was positive in the liver and spleen for ethanol. Testing of vitreous fluid could not be accomplished due to insufficient quantity of the specimen. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260HP-1996-02-05), registration cancelled 1996-02-05, S/N 1007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerotek PITTS - S2S (PITTS - S2) - Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS S2S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s2s) (registry code 0110202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1007 - Airframe hours: 3104 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4B5 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Carl Henning - Registered owner: Aviation Specialties Unlimited - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1995, 80 hours before - Departed: NTU, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - Destination: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,045 total, 150 in this make and model, 124 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TDF, 29 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950925030219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950925030219A), Sep 25, 1995: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS2S, Clarksville, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Inflight loss of control. Flying between layers VFR. Merged. Lost control. Spiral dive. Not IFR equipped. 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.