Accident occurred Saturday, July 19, 2008 in Cleveland, TX
Aircraft: Aerotek Pitts S-2A, registration: N80053
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 19, 2008, at 1258 central daylight time, an Aerotek Pitts S-2A single-engine aerobatic airplane, N80053, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff from the Cleveland Municipal Airport (6R3), Cleveland, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to witnesses, the airplane was departing on runway 16 at 6R3. 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.

A review of the pilot's airman records revealed that the 88-year old private pilot had a not had a current medical certificate since 2002

Heart attack on rotation? Released the stick and it crashed on its own? Two losses...

At least he didn't go west from some lousy nursing home. RIP.

Can a pitts fall into the LSA category?

If so, a medical is not required and would be a non-issue. I just don't know if it fits into the weight and airspeed categories.

A multi-millionaire and prominent pilot in Minnesota crashed and was killed in his Jenny years ago. It was discovered that he had not had a medical for several years prior to that. Despite owning and flying everything from ultra-lights to his float equipped Caravan.

A lot more of that going on than you might think...

quote:

Originally posted by Mark:
Can a pitts fall into the LSA category?

If so, a medical is not required and would be a non-issue. I just don't know if it fits into the weight and airspeed categories.

I doubt it.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

Originally posted by Mark:
Can a pitts fall into the LSA category?

If so, a medical is not required and would be a non-issue. I just don't know if it fits into the weight and airspeed categories.

I doubt it.

Not with the big engines, but with a 100hp or smaller it just might. The original Pitt's had an 80hp Franklin if I remember right.

I've tried and so far, no answer to this question. I do find that the Pitts has been built and flown with about everything that would hang on the front, from an 85HP Continental to a 180HP Lycoming to a 260HP Lycoming to a 400HP Russian built radial! I would think that thing would auger out the fuselage if you poured the coal to it! I just cannot imagine flying such a beastie!
And think of this one:
"S-1-11B 9 originally known as Model 11 'Super Stinker,' 300+ hp Lycoming, 4 aileron, single seat, experimental-plans or factory built and factory component parts, symmetric airfoil, 3 blade constant speed prop rolls better than 300 degree/s, climbs better than 3000 ft/min." Could we have fun poking holes in clouds or what?

The S2a I owned for a time several years ago was a hoot, it would not make you sick like the S2b's I flew with Bill Thomas, but still it had plenty of power with just the IO-360 up front.
Those monsters are just that, acceleration monsters.

I have flown the Extra's 200 & 300, they are to a Pitts S2 what a Pitt's S2 is to my Stearman.

quote:

Posted 28 July 2008 02:10 Hide Post
A multi-millionaire and prominent pilot in Minnesota crashed and was killed in his Jenny years ago. It was discovered that he had not

Buzz never was PIC. In the US he always found someone to fly with him to act as PIC.

I lived about ten miles from Curtis Pitts's strip for about twelve years and had him in my living room once, but I never got to fly one of his wonderful airplanes. He was a real nice guy.

I know a few that fly with out medicals and I known one that didn't have any kind of pilot certificate other than a student pilot certificate that he had gotten some 35 years prior. Flew a J-3 Cub. Nothing much you really can do about it, when a person owns his or hers airplane and and keeps it on his or hers own landing strip. Never flew with anybody, most of the time just a few take off and landings every so often. I am sure I was not the only one to know about it. There was a fellow at the airport I learned to fly at that flew all over in a Rockwell Shrike Commander and he would File IFR and what have you, no instrument no medical no pilot certificate of any kind. They are out there, I don't think its as wide spread as in years passed, today is not the golden age of GA like it was in the 50's 60's and the first three years of the 1970's. It really cost to much to do that sort of foolishness these days.

I was lucky to get in on some of those times. soloed in 1959 at 16. GA was rolling and I flew for a couple of brokers that allowed me to get a lot of time in various types. It's a rich man's sport these days, which really sucks. Used to be cheaper to climb into a 172 and fly somewhere instead of driving. No more. Another tragedy for the common man.