Aerotek Pitts S-2A accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, May 31, 2003
On May 31, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aerotek Pitts S-2A, registered N97DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 improper inspection of the aircraft after impacting trees on a previous flight which resulted in an in-flight separation of the lower left wing and aileron while performing aerobatic maneuvers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Prairie, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek Pitts S-2A · all Pitts S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N97DW · registry record · serial 2150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the recovery from an aerobatic maneuver, a section of the lower left wing separated in-flight, and the airplane landed uneventfully at the departure airport. Approximately 5 minutes into the flight, the pilot was performing a power-on stall. During the stall, the airplane broke to the left, and then the airplane entered an inverted spin. During the spin, the aircraft performed approximately two rotations. To recover, the pilot reduced power, and the airplane entered a nose low attitude. The pilot "pulled hard" to recover from the nose low attitude, and the airplane again broke to the left. During recovery of the ensuing dive, the airplane was shuddering and a section of the lower left wing separated. Approximately 30 days prior to the accident flight, during a low altitude pass over some of the pilot's property, the airplane impacted the tops of some trees. The pilot repaired the airplane fabric damage with duct tape and did not report what additional inspections and/or repairs had been completed. He also had not received any formal aerobatic instruction and was learning aerobatics on his own.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPM Grand Prairie TX at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from GPM, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.