Pitts S-2B accident near East Palestine, Ohio, June 15, 1993
On June 15, 1993 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Pitts S-2B, registered N54DR, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Palestine, Ohio (Bartholow Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITION IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1993 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- East Palestine, Ohio · Bartholow Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-2B · all S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N54DR · registry record · serial 5093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 (THE WINDS WERE 280 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS). THE PILOT SAID, '...JUST AS I WAS READY TO TOUCHDOWN, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING TIP TO HIT THE GROUND...' THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,031 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,841 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 38D Salem OH at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,611 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- 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.