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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II · cases near this airport
- 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 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N603SB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pitts S-2 13 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pitts 46 aircraft on the register
- N602SB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pitts S-2 13 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pitts 46 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 239 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 239 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Double Eagle II Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,111 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN91LA074.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.