Pitts S-2A accident near Kahuku, Hawaii, April 17, 1994
On April 17, 1994 at about 10:46 pm local time, a Pitts S-2A, registered N54TA, was destroyed in an accident near Kahuku, Hawaii. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHILE PERFORMING AN ACROBATIC ROUTINE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING THE ACROBATIC MANEUVERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1994 · about 10:46 pm local time
- Place
- Kahuku, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2A · all S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N54TA · registry record · serial 5271
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PITTS S-2A COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN DURING AN ACROBATIC DISPLAY. THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A WEEKLY AIR SHOW FOR GUESTS OF A WATERFRONT HOTEL. THE AIRPLANE WAS DOING SLOW ROLLS ALONG THE SHORELINE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 TO 300 FEET. AFTER COMPLETING TWO ROLLS, THE AIRPLANE SLOWLY ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED INTO THE WATER IN AN ARCING FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS HEARD TO ACCELERATE SECONDS BEFORE HITTING THE WATER. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTIONS BY WITNESSES. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY THAT EMPLOYED THE PILOT INDICATED THAT IN THE PAST HE HAD TALKED TO THE PILOT ABOUT THE ACROBATIC MANEUVERS IN THE SHOW. ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, THE PILOT HAD STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT, 'YOU SHOULD NEVER DO MORE THAN 2 ROLLS AT A TIME BECAUSE YOU WOULD BECOME TOO EASILY DISORIENTED.'
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: 5,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 312 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tsunami Aviation Hawaii, INC
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Mokuleia HI at 10:20 pm
- Destination: HDH HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.