Aviat INC PITTS S-2B and amateur-built V STAR accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, May 14, 2015
On May 14, 2015, 2 aircraft, Aviat INC PITTS S-2B (N110PS) and amateur-built V STAR (N675GM), were involved in the same accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Tullahoma Regional Airport). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his airplane landing on top of the other airplane.
The other pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his airplane landing on top of this airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2015 · cases in 2015
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Tullahoma Regional Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aviat INC PITTS S-2B, built 1996 · all PITTS S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N110PS · registry record · serial 5335
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built V STAR, built 2010
- Registration
- N675GM · registry record · serial 007
- 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
A red V Star biplane and a white Aviat Pitts biplane collided while both airplanes were landing on the same runway. Review of both pilot statements, a witness statement, and a video from a recorder attached to the white biplane pilot's helmet revealed that the red biplane was ahead of the white biplane in the left airport traffic pattern. Both pilots reported their positions on the common traffic advisory frequency; the white biplane pilot reported when he entered the downwind and final legs, and the red biplane pilot reported when he was 7 miles inbound and when he entered the downwind leg. A review of the video showed that, for a 7-second period just before and as the white biplane was turning onto the base leg, the red biplane was visible as a small, dull, white flashing dot above trees on a flightpath consistent with entering the final leg. The red biplane then disappeared behind the white biplane's upper wing but then reappeared for 4 more seconds while the white biplane was on the left base leg. The red biplane then moved from left of the white biplane's nose and just below the upper wing to centered just above the nose. The red biplane then disappeared below the white biplane's cowling until 1 second before impact. The white biplane was faster than the red biplane, flew a closer traffic pattern, and turned onto the base leg sooner, which resulted in the white biplane overtaking the red biplane and landing on top of it as the red biplane touched down on the runway.
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 amateur-built V STAR final · quoted from the NTSB record
A red V Star biplane and a white Aviat Pitts biplane collided while both airplanes were landing on the same runway. Review of both pilot statements, a witness statement, and a video from a recorder attached to the white biplane pilot's helmet revealed that the red biplane was ahead of the white biplane in the left airport traffic pattern. Both pilots reported their positions on the common traffic advisory frequency; the white biplane pilot reported when he entered the downwind and final legs, and the red biplane pilot reported when he was 7 miles inbound and when he entered the downwind leg. A review of the video showed that, for a 7-second period just before and as the white biplane was turning onto the base leg, the red biplane was visible as a small, dull, white flashing dot above trees on a flightpath consistent with entering the final leg. The red biplane then disappeared behind the white biplane's upper wing but then reappeared for 4 more seconds while the white biplane was on the left base leg. The red biplane then moved from left of the white biplane's nose and just below the upper wing to centered just above the nose. The red biplane then disappeared below the white biplane's cowling until 1 second before impact. The white biplane was faster than the red biplane, flew a closer traffic pattern, and turned onto the base leg sooner, which resulted in the white biplane overtaking the red biplane and landing on top of it as the red biplane touched down on the runway.
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
- Ground collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 917 hours in all; 757 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 12, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,089 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2015; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 1,089 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: THA Tullahoma TN at 11:26 pm
- Destination: THA Tullahoma TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built V STAR from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,180 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 2, 2015; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,120 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 60 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: THA Tullahoma TN at 11:15 pm
- Destination: THA Tullahoma TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N110PS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aviat Inc PITTS S-2B 79 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- N675GM on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 434 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 46 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tullahoma Rgnl/Wm Northern Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,535 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA15LA210.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.