Pitts S-2A N54TA
17 April 1994 · Kahuku, Hawaii, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 17 April 1994 at about 22:46 local time, a Pitts S-2A registered N54TA, operated by Tsunami Aviation Hawaii, Inc, was involved in an accident near Kahuku, Hawaii, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kahuku, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 21.6791, -157.9400
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2A
- Registration
- N54TA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Tsunami Aviation Hawaii, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mokuleia → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA194
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHILE PERFORMING AN ACROBATIC ROUTINE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING THE ACROBATIC MANEUVERS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A PITTS S-2A COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN DURING AN ACROBATIC DISPLAY. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A WEEKLY AIR SHOW FOR GUESTS OF A WATERFRONT HOTEL. THE AIRPLANE WAS DOING SLOW ROLLS ALONG THE SHORELINE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 TO 300 FEET. AFTER COMPLETING TWO ROLLS, THE AIRPLANE SLOWLY ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED INTO THE WATER IN AN ARCING FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS HEARD TO ACCELERATE SECONDS BEFORE HITTING THE WATER. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTIONS BY WITNESSES. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY THAT EMPLOYED THE PILOT INDICATED THAT IN THE PAST HE HAD TALKED TO THE PILOT ABOUT THE ACROBATIC MANEUVERS IN THE SHOW. ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THE PILOT HAD STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT, 'YOU SHOULD NEVER DO MORE THAN 2 ROLLS AT A TIME BECAUSE YOU WOULD BECOME TOO EASILY DISORIENTED.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Pitts S-2A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1998 | Pitts S-2A | Benton, Kansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Pitts S-2A | New Smyrna Beac, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1999 | Pitts S-2A | Pittstown, New Jersey, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 2003 | Pitts S-2A | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1985 | Pitts S-2A | Van Nuys, California, United States | Alpha Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Sep 1985 | Pitts S-2A | Carlsbad, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | David Michael Goff | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Feb 1994 | Schweizer 2-33-A | Dillingham, Hawaii, United States | Soar Hawaii, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Humuula, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1994 | Beechcraft C-23 | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1994 | Hughes 369D | Hi. Nat'l Park, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 1994 | Eurocopter AS-350D | Kaupo, Hawaii, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |