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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

June 11, 1990 · Aerotek Pitts S2A · N29MC

Thermal, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 11, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Thermal, CA
Aircraft
Aerotek Pitts S2A
Tail Number
N29MC
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90FA219

DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK THE PILOT HAD BEEN REGULARLY PRACTICING AEROBATICS. DURING THE PRECEDING 6 MONTHS THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED 15 HOURS OF AEROBATICS INSTRUCTION. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT DEPARTED THERMAL AIRPORT TO PRACTICE AEROBATICS. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY. GROUND SCARS AND WRECKAGE EXAMINATION INDICATE THAT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN INVERTED, WINGS LEVEL, 75 DEG NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE, AND AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH VELOCITY.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE DURING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER.

Full Narrative

DURING THE PRECEDING WEEK THE PILOT HAD BEEN REGULARLY PRACTICING AEROBATICS. DURING THE PRECEDING 6 MONTHS THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED 15 HOURS OF AEROBATICS INSTRUCTION. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT DEPARTED THERMAL AIRPORT TO PRACTICE AEROBATICS. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY. GROUND SCARS AND WRECKAGE EXAMINATION INDICATE THAT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN INVERTED, WINGS LEVEL, 75 DEG NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE, AND AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH VELOCITY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:55 PDT
Nearest AirportTHERMAL (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerotek Pitts S2A
Tail NumberN29MC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · AEIO-360-A1A · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data