Cessna 172K and Pitts S-2B accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina, April 17, 1994
On April 17, 1994 at about 9:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172K (N711GT) and Pitts S-2B (N83TH), were involved in the same accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina (Spartanburg Downtown Apt. airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of Cessna 172K, N711GT.
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of Cessna 172K, N711GT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1994 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Spartanburg, South Carolina · Spartanburg Downtown Apt. · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N711GT · registry record · serial 17258811
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Pitts S-2B · all S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N83TH · registry record · serial 5093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172K, N711GT TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE. HE FAILED TO SEE THE PITTS S-2B, N83TH, ON FINAL APPROACH FOR THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO HIS TAXIING ONTO THE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT OF THE PITTS STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE CESSNA TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY AS A RESULT OF THE POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY IN THE PITTS. THE PITTS STRUCK THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE OF THE CESSNA DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA DID NOT POSSESS EITHER A VALID PILOT CERTIFICATE NOR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172K, N711GT TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE. HE FAILED TO SEE THE PITTS S-2B, N83TH, ON FINAL APPROACH FOR THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO HIS TAXIING ONTO THE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT OF THE PITTS STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE CESSNA TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY AS A RESULT OF THE POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY IN THE PITTS. THE PITTS STRUCK THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE OF THE CESSNA DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA DID NOT POSSESS EITHER A VALID PILOT CERTIFICATE NOR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 1,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,376 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993; 176 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Lincolnton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,203 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SPA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Pitts S-2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,203 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.