Aerotek PITTS S-2A N80053

Summary

On 19 July 2008 at about 17:58 local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2A registered N80053 was involved in an accident near Cleveland, Texas, 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.

Date

19 July 2008 at 17:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Cleveland, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Cleveland Municipal (6R3)

Coordinates

30.3564, -95.0078

Aircraft

Aerotek PITTS S-2A

Registration

N80053

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleveland → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN08LA124

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during his attempted performance of aerobatic maneuvers shortly after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witness stated that shortly after rotation, the airplane entered a "barrel roll" maneuver. The airplane "veered off to the right, nose and right wing low, [until] it hit the west edge tree line." The airplane came to rest in a wooded area approximately 300 yards west of the runway centerline. Acquaintances stated the pilot had been known in the past to attempt an aerobatic maneuver shortly after takeoff. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine. The private pilot had not held a current medical certificate for the past 6 years.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.