Amateur-built Pitts S2E accident near Hanover, Indiana, September 25, 2004
On September 25, 2004 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Pitts S2E, registered N8005X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hanover, Indiana (Lee Bottom airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the trees and terrain during the aerobatic maneuver. Contributing factors were the pilot's decision to perform a low-level, ostentatious aerobatic display and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2004 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hanover, Indiana · Lee Bottom · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pitts S2E
- Registration
- N8005X · registry record · serial TB-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built aerobatic airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during an aerobatic maneuver. The pilot reported that they entered a hammerhead [stall maneuver] at 140 - 145 [miles per hour]. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the pilot executed a "sporty" takeoff, followed by a vertical climb. He stated the pilot performed a hammerhead stall and a low-level pass down the runway. The pilot-rated passenger stated that near the end of the runway the pilot once again pulled into a vertical climb, followed by another hammerhead stall. He reported that as the pilot applied power entering the climb the engine hesitated momentarily similar to when the throttle is advanced too quickly. The passenger stated that the aircraft did not have enough altitude to regain airspeed after the stall. Witnesses stated that the accident airplane took off and pulled into a vertical climb. The pilot executed several aerobatic maneuvers including low-level passes over the runway. The witnesses thought the airplane had departed the area when they saw it descend into trees south of the airport. The airport manager, one of the witnesses, stated that the airplane impacted at a 60-degree or more angle and recalled that it was not spinning or turning. The witnesses did not perceive any engine problems. The aircraft impacted a one-lane airport perimeter road south-southeast of the runway. Trees, approximately 25 feet in height, lined both sides of the road. Numerous tree strikes were observed on the tree line south of the road. The aircraft came to rest on the north side of the road, oriented in a southerly direction. A post-accident examination did not reveal any anomalies associated with a pre-impact failure. The operation manual for the accident aircraft stated that the recommended entry speed for a hammerhead stall maneuver was between 130 and 180 miles per hour.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 637 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 17 in the last 30 days; 406 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 21, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 259.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2004; 106.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 64I Hanover IN at 9:45 pm
- Destination: I73 Dayton OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from SDF, 31 miles away
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.