Aviat Pitts S2B accident near Hamilton, Ohio, June 13, 2004
On June 13, 2004 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aviat Pitts S2B, registered N963CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio (Butler County Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after experiencing a brake system malfunction during landing. Factors related to the accident were the malfunction of a landing gear brake as reported by the pilot, and the crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2004 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Ohio · Butler County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Pitts S2B
- Registration
- N963CB · registry record · serial S-2B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After completing a 1-hour flight, which included sustained inverted flight, the pilot returned to land. The pilot stated that after touching down on runway 29, a 5,500-foot long, 100-foot wide asphalt runway, the right landing gear brake stuck. The airplane veered to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign with the right wing. The right landing gear assembly collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grass area. Examination of the brake system by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any abnormalities. The winds recorded at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 230 degrees 12 knots, gusting to 18 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 652 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 508 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 540 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2003; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming AE IO-540 D4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAO Hamilton OH at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 NYC04LA140.