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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 22, 1995 · Aerotek Pitts S-2S · N330HP

Honesdale, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 22, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Honesdale, PA
Aircraft
Aerotek Pitts S-2S
Tail Number
N330HP
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA169

THE PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING MANEUVERS FOR AN AIRSHOW. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CONDUCTING A MANEUVER '...[THE AIRPLANE] WENT DEEPER AND LOST SOME ALTITUDE, 200 FEET, DURING THE RECOVERY STAGE. I DID NOT CLEAR TREES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SHOW LINE....' THE FAA INSPECTORS STATEMENT STATED, '...[THE PILOT] INDICATED THAT ON ENTRY, HIS POWER WAS SET LOWER THAN NORMAL...AND HIS AIRSPEED WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN NORMAL...WHICH RESULTED IN A LOWER ENTRY ALTITUDE....[THE PILOT] INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR THE ENGINE....'

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilots misjudgment of the altitude required to perform an aerobatic maneuver, and the subsequent collision with trees.

Full Narrative

On July 22, 1995, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-2S, N330HP, impacted trees while performing aerobatics during an airshow near the Cherry Ridge Airport, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight Originated from Cherry Ridge Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, While performing a solo aerobatic act at this airshow, I was halfway through my normal routine doing a maneuver I call my LA LA PALUZA, which is tumbling the plane end over end. [The airplane] went deeper and lost some altitude, 200 feet, during the recovery stage. I did not clear trees on the east side of the show line. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspectors stated, ...[The pilot] indicated that on entry his power was set...lower than normal (2400 vs. 2500 RPM); and his airspeed was a little lower than normal (165 vs. 180 knots) which resulted in a lower entry altitude.... ...[The pilot] indicated that there were no problems with the aircraft or the engine.... Additionally, postaccident examination by the FAA Inspectors revealed no pre-impact anomalies with the engine or airframe.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:10 EDT
Nearest AirportCherry Ridge (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerotek Pitts S-2S
Tail NumberN330HP
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 315
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 5 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data