Christen Industries INC PITTS S-2B accident near Dalton, Ohio, July 16, 2013
On July 16, 2013 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Christen Industries INC PITTS S-2B, registered N519ZB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Dalton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2013 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Dalton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries INC PITTS S-2B · all PITTS S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N519ZB · registry record · serial 5142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers when the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing to a grass runway. The pilot landed the airplane half-way down the runway, but he was unable to stop it before it overran the runway and struck a utility pole. A postaccident test run of the engine and examinations of the engine and airplane did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 444 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 395 as pilot in command; 6 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 21, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,077 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pittsbird LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CAK Akron OH at 11:15 pm
- Destination: CAK Akron OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CAK, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.