Pitts S2B accident near Springfield, Illinois, August 5, 1990
On August 5, 1990 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Pitts S2B, registered N260RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Illinois (Capital airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL DURING THE BREAK TURN TO DOWNWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1990 · about 10:22 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Illinois · Capital · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S2B · all S2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N260RM · no longer on the register · serial 5161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO. HE REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED FOR A BREAK TURN TO DOWNWIND. WITNESSES REPORT AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN TOWARD THE DOWNWIND DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COMMENCED A LEFT SPINNING DESCENT TO COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. NO MECHANICAL DESCREPANCY WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 778 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 676 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Regal Quality Air, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from SPI, 1 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.