Aerotek Pitts S2 accident near Xenia, Ohio, August 5, 2001
On August 5, 2001 at about 7:29 pm local time, a Aerotek Pitts S2, registered N8065, was substantially damaged in an accident near Xenia, Ohio (Skydive Greene County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's excessive airspeed during the approach, which resulted in the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2001 · about 7:29 pm local time
- Place
- Xenia, Ohio · Skydive Greene County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek Pitts S2 · all Pitts S2s on the register
- Registration
- N8065 · no longer on the register · serial 2105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witnesses observed the airplane landing at the airport toward the west, at a "very high speed." The airplane bounced several times on the runway, drifted off the left side, and impacted a drainage ditch. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had no memory of the accident. However, in a telephone interview he stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had about 264 hours of total flight experience, of which 39 were in the accident airplane. The winds reported at an airport 20 miles to the northwest were from 070 degrees at 7 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 187 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 2000; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIE Muncie IN at 6:43 pm
- Destination: I20 Xenia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 270, 2,250 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from FFO, 20 miles away
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.
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.