Amateur-built PITTS S2E accident near Apex, North Carolina, March 8, 2017
On March 8, 2017 at about 8:37 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built PITTS S2E, registered N30BJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Apex, North Carolina (Cox Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the final approach to the runway in gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2017 · about 8:37 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S2E E, built 2009
- Registration
- N30BJ · no longer on the register · serial BJ-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to the airport from a local personal flight in the airplane. The airplane approached runway 9 at an angle before rolling inverted, descending, and impacting terrain, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. A review of weather conditions revealed that, on final approach, the airplane likely experienced a tailwind of about 9 knots with wind gusts as high as 20 knots. Pilots familiar with the airport reported that, due to the slope of the runway, pilots preferred to land on runway 9 unless there was a tailwind of more than 10 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. It is likely that, while maneuvering on final approach to the runway with a gusting tailwind, the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,933.1 hours in all; 96.4 in this make and model; 2.7 in the last 90 days; 1,678.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 17, 2016; 4 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 1,274 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC81 Apex NC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NC81 Apex NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,450 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 292° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 8:37 pm from RDU, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Overview of Wreckage
Photo 2 – Front View of Airplane Wreckage
Photo 3 – Aft View of Wreckage
Photo 4 – Top View of Engine
Photo 5 – View of One Propeller BladeThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 29, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Log Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Study Report | PDF, 28 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N30BJ: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 41 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cox Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 304 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,123 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA17FA123.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.