Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1996
On August 4, 1996 at about 10:37 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, registered N2HT, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 utilization of airspeeds greater than the manufacturer recommended maneuvering airspeeds which exceed the design limits of the airplane and resulted in the subsequent failure of the wing spar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1996 · about 10:37 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S PITTS SPEC · all PITTS SPECIAL S-1Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2HT · no longer on the register · serial 1-0014
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot received clearance into the approved airshow aerobatic airspace, and initiated his first maneuver, a double snap roll. A video tape of the maneuver showed a deformation of the lower left wing within seconds of initiation of the maneuver. This was followed by a failure of the left outboard portion of the upper wing. Both the failed lower left wing and the failed upper left outboard portion of the top wing displaced aft against the empennage. The video then captured the airplane in a descent until water impact in an inverted attitude. According to witnesses, the pilot utilized airspeeds greater than the manufacturer's recommended maneuvering airspeeds. Witnesses also reported seeing the 'g' meter in the cockpit at higher positive and negative readings than recommended by the manufacturer. The pilot had voiced his concern about the airplane's wings because of flutter he experienced during recent flights.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,625 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1995; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-B4A-MOD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC PA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from KAG, 15 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 IAD96FA126.