NTSB investigations: Aerotek PITTS S-2A, CA

9 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Aerotek PITTS S-2A. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19752026

NTSB investigations: Aerotek PITTS S-2A, CA per year, 1975–2026: 9 cases
1975	1
1977	1
1980	1
1984	1
1985	2
1990	1
1991	1
2005	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('0110201')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('0110201'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('0110201'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB LAX05CA153Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAerotek Pitts S-2A · Tracy, CAthe pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop and nose over.May 1, 2005 · N5300V · Substantial damage NTSB LAX91FA098Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Santa Paula, CAInadequate visual lookout by the Bell 206B pilot, which resulted in his failure to see-and-avoid the pitts S-2A. A factor related to the accident was: the S-2A pilot's restricted visibility from the tailwheel equipped airplane, once it was in position on the…Feb 13, 1991 · N2282T · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB LAX90FA219Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerotek Pitts S2A · Thermal, CAThe pilot's inadequate handling of the airplane during an aerobatic maneuver.Jun 11, 1990 · N29MC · Destroyed NTSB LAX85LA342Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPitts S-2A · Van Nuys, CAAfter practicing acrobatics the plt returned to the arpt for the purpose of practicing landings. He made the first one successfully, but flared out high on the second landing. The acft bounced 'hard' on the rwy twice, & the plt elected to go around. After…Aug 3, 1985 · N88M · Substantial damage NTSB LAX85FUM01Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportAerotek Pitts S-2A · Ramona, CAOn July 28, 1985 at approximately 1820 hours, a pitts S-2A, N56PS, owned and operated by william l. travis, crashed on a hillside on the 192 deg radial, 12.8 nautical miles from the julian VOR. The flight was for the purpose of aerobatics. The aircraft was…Jul 29, 1985 · N56PS · Destroyed NTSB LAX84LA331Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPitts S2A · Redlands, CAThe acft were to perform & the two plts agreed to a staggered takeoff with the 2nd plt counting to 5 prior to commencinghis takeoff. They positioned themselves abreast of each other on the rwy. The plt of N65P commenced her takeoff from the right side of the…Jun 3, 1984 · N6JP · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FUG46Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPitts S2A · Redlands, CAJul 1, 1980 · N21CM · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB LAX77FUM16Accident · No injuriesClosedPitts S-2A · Santee, CAFeb 19, 1977 · N80053 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX75AL054Accident · 2 fatalClosedPitts S-2A · Riverside, CAApr 19, 1975 · N13AS · Destroyed