Aerotek PITTS-S2A accident near Eustis, Florida, July 6, 1991
On July 6, 1991 at about 8:43 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS-S2A, registered N31427, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eustis, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO A SCREWDRIVER JAMMING THE ELEVATOR CONTROL FOR UNKNOWN CAUSES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1991 · about 8:43 pm local time
- Place
- Eustis, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS-S2A · all PITTS-S2As on the register
- Registration
- N31427 · registry record · serial 2159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATICS THE PILOT NOTED HE HAD LOST ELEVATOR CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE NOSE SLIGHTLY DURING THE DESCENT AND EXECUTED A PARTIALLY CONTROLLED FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT A SCREWDRIVER WAS JAMMED IN THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK. THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSED THE SCREWDRIVER TO BE IN THE AIRPLANE OR THE OWNER OF THE SCREWDRIVER WERE NOT DETERMINED.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,359 hours in all; 88 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from MCO, 13 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.