Pitts S-2B and Pitts S-2B accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 16, 1991
On May 16, 1991 at about 10:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Pitts S-2B (N603SB) and Pitts S-2B (N602SB), were involved in the same accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Pitts S-2B · all S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N603SB · registry record · serial 5035
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Pitts S-2B · all S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N602SB · registry record · serial 5027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE NUMBER THREE AIRPLANE, IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR TAXIING AFTER LANDING, MOMENTARILY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE NUMBER TWO AIRPLANE AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH ITS TAIL.
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 NUMBER THREE AIRPLANE, IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR TAXIING AFTER LANDING, MOMENTARILY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE NUMBER TWO AIRPLANE AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH ITS TAIL.
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 Pitts S-2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,283 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 5,261 as pilot in command; 866 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: National Airshows, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,070 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 5,878 as pilot in command; 1,931 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN91LA074.