Aerotek PITTS S-2A N97DW

Summary

On 31 May 2003 at about 15:30 local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2A registered N97DW was involved in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 2003 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Prairie, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6983, -97.0464

Aircraft

Aerotek PITTS S-2A

Registration

N97DW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Prairie → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA164

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper inspection of the aircraft after impacting trees on a previous flight which resulted in an in-flight separation of the lower left wing and aileron while performing aerobatic maneuvers.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the recovery from an aerobatic maneuver, a section of the lower left wing separated in-flight, and the airplane landed uneventfully at the departure airport. Approximately 5 minutes into the flight, the pilot was performing a power-on stall. During the stall, the airplane broke to the left, and then the airplane entered an inverted spin. During the spin, the aircraft performed approximately two rotations. To recover, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane entered a nose low attitude. The pilot "pulled hard" to recover from the nose low attitude, and the airplane again broke to the left. During recovery of the ensuing dive, the airplane was shuddering and a section of the lower left wing separated. Approximately 30 days prior to the accident flight, during a low altitude pass over some of the pilot's property, the airplane impacted the tops of some trees. The pilot repaired the airplane fabric damage with duct tape and did not report what additional inspections and/or repairs had been completed. He also had not received any formal aerobatic instruction and was learning aerobatics on his own.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.