Pilot Debrief

Pitts S2 near New Orleans, LA — 2019-08-16

Final reportCEN19FA270
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Date
2019-08-16
Location
New Orleans, LA, USA
Airport
NEW
Aircraft
Pitts S2
Registration
N600DF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A loss of control for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The passenger, a TV news anchor, was filming a documentary on the pilot, which included a local flight in the pilot's aerobatic airplane. The airplane departed and turned onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot requested to return to the airport but did not specify the reason for the return. A witness described the airplane as, “unstable” and “wiggling,” and said that the engine was sputtering before the airplane impacted the ground and burst into flames. The airplane impacted terrain in an approximate 45° nose-down pitch attitude and was consumed by a post-impact fire. Examination of the flight controls and engine did not reveal any obvious pre-impact anomalies, although severe fire damage precluded complete examination. The wooden propeller blades were severely fractured and splintered, consistent with powered rotation at the time of impact. The reason for the loss of control and impact with terrain could not be determined based on the available information.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not specify reason for returning to airport after takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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