Aviat INC PITTS S-2B and Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, October 29, 2010
On October 29, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aviat INC PITTS S-2B (N8ZT) and Cirrus Design CORP SR22 (N876CP), were involved in the same accident near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (Hilton Head Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Pitts pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from the Cirrus airplane.
The Pitts pilot's inadequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina · Hilton Head Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aviat INC PITTS S-2B · all PITTS S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8ZT · no longer on the register · serial 5293
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22
- Registration
- N876CP · registry record · serial 3271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aviat INC PITTS S-2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Pitts airplane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff when he impacted a Cirrus airplane that was holding short of the runway. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the Cirrus prior to the collision, claiming that the narrow taxiway limited his ability to make "s" turns. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the propeller of the Pitts struck the right outboard section of wing spar of the Cirrus, resulting in substantial damage to the Cirrus.
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 Cirrus Design CORP SR22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Pitts airplane was taxiing to the runway for takeoff when he impacted a Cirrus airplane that was holding short of the runway. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the Cirrus prior to the collision, claiming that the narrow taxiway limited his ability to make “s” turns. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the propeller of the Pitts struck the right outboard section of wing spar of the Cirrus, resulting in substantial damage to the Cirrus.
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 Aviat INC PITTS S-2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 251200 during 251
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2009
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 943 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, July 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AE IO-540 D4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: O G CO
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: HXD Hilton Head Island SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°C, dew point 45°C
- Altimeter: 30.120001 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from HXD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Cirrus Design CORP SR22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 251200 during 251
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, AME, ASE, IAIR, APLN
- Flight time: 2,708 hours in all; 1,465 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 2,665 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 510 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, September 24, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Capital Holdings 200 LLC
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: HXD Hilton Head Island SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N8ZT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ERA11LA043.