Aerotek PITTS S-2S accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1995
On July 22, 1995 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2S, registered N330HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania (Cherry Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilots misjudgment of the altitude required to perform an aerobatic maneuver, and the subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1995 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Honesdale, Pennsylvania · Cherry Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-2S · all PITTS S-2Ss on the register
- Registration
- N330HP · registry record · serial 1010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING MANEUVERS FOR AN AIRSHOW. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE CONDUCTING A MANEUVER '...[THE AIRPLANE] WENT DEEPER AND LOST SOME ALTITUDE, 200 FEET, DURING THE RECOVERY STAGE. I DID NOT CLEAR TREES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SHOW LINE....' THE FAA INSPECTORS STATEMENT STATED, '...[THE PILOT] INDICATED THAT ON ENTRY, HIS POWER WAS SET LOWER THAN NORMAL...AND HIS AIRSPEED WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN NORMAL...WHICH RESULTED IN A LOWER ENTRY ALTITUDE....[THE PILOT] INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR THE ENGINE....'
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: 3,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 941 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1995; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N30 at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.