Aerotek PITTS S 2A N67PN

Summary

On 26 May 2017 at about 17:30 local time, a Aerotek PITTS S 2A registered N67PN was involved in an accident near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 2017 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.7653, -87.9169

Aircraft

Aerotek PITTS S 2A

Registration

N67PN

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sheboygan → Sheboygan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17FA197

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control following a partial loss of engine power during a low-level aerobatic maneuver; the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during postaccident examination of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's exceedance of the airplane's published maximum gross weight and center of gravity limits for the acrobatic category.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot and a private pilot-rated passenger departed in an aerobatic airplane to perform a fly-by over a local raceway. About 10 minutes after the fly-by, one witness saw the airplane flying level when its engine stopped producing sound. The airplane continued level flight for several seconds before it suddenly entered a nose-down, descending spiral and impacted the ground. However, two other witnesses saw the airplane conduct a vertical climb before entering what they described as a "corkscrew" and a "fast spin." Both of these witnesses described engine sound anomalies and that they thought the pilot was trying to restart the engine. The airplane came to rest inverted on plowed terrain. Signatures on the propeller were consistent with the engine not producing significant power at the time of impact; however, examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded operation of the airplane and engine. Weight and balance calculations were produced using occupant weights at various fuel loads. Even at minimum fuel, the airplane was operating above its maximum gross weight of 1,500 lbs for approved flight in the acrobatic category at the time of the accident. Additionally, the airplane's calculated center of gravity was outside the envelope for the acrobatic category. It is likely the airplane's gross weight exceedance and operation outside the weight and balance envelope for aerobatic flight contributed to the pilot's difficulty in adequately controlling the airplane. The investigation could not determine which occupant was manipulating the controls at the time of the accident. Regardless, the pilot was responsible for maintaining flight control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.