Aerotek PITTS S-2B accident near Elk Grove, California, November 8, 1983
On November 8, 1983 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2B, registered N700ME, was destroyed in an accident near Elk Grove, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1983 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Elk Grove, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-2B
- Registration
- N700ME · registry record · serial 5007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AEROBATIC FLT, THE PLT-IN-COMMAND WAS ASKED TO DEMONSTRATE RECOVERY FROM AN INVERTED FLAT SPIN. THE MANEUVER WAS INITIATED AT APRX 5000 FT. AFTER THE ACFT MADE APRX 3/4 OF AN INVERTED TURN, IT ROLLED UPRIGHT AS THE PIC STARTED TO 'FEED IN THROTTLE.' HE RETARDED THE THOTTLE, HELD FORWARD STICK & RIGHT RUDDER & THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AGAIN. AGAIN, POWER WAS APPLIED & THE PLANE ROLLED UPRIGHT AGAIN & 'WOUND UP TIGHT.' REPORTEDLY, THE PIC RETARDED THE POWER & APPLIED OPPOSITE RUDDER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE SPIN, WHICH WAS TO THE LEFT & BETWEEN A NORMAL & FLAT SPIN ATTITUDE.AT APRX 2000 FT, THE PIC ORDERED A BAILOUT, BUT THE 2ND PLT REMAINED IN THE ACFT. FINALLY, THE PIC BAILED OUT AT APRX 500 FT & WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE ACFT STOPPED ROTATING JUST PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVELATTITUDE. TO RCVR FROM A FLAT, UPRIGHT, LEFT SPIN, THE PROCEDURING WAS: THROTTLE - IDLE, STICK - FULL LEFT TO FORCE THE INSIDE WING DOWN, HOLD UNTIL A NORMAL SPIN DEVELOPS, THEN RCVR FROM NORMAL SPIN; EXPECT 2500 FT ALT LOSS DURING RCVRY.
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: 7,262 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 7,183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 128 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 11:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from SAC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.