Aviat INC PITTS S-2B accident near Redlands, California, September 19, 2011
On September 19, 2011 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Aviat INC PITTS S-2B, registered N46BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Redlands, California (Redlands Municipal 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 pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from alcohol.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2011 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat INC PITTS S-2B · all PITTS S-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N46BT · registry record · serial 5245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane stalled while maneuvering at a low altitude. He attempted to recover from the stall; however, the airplane continued to descend and subsequently collided with terrain. First responders to the accident site reported that they noted an odor of alcohol when they spoke to the pilot at the accident site. About one hour after the accident, a blood sample from the pilot was secured and later tested for alcohol intoxicants. The test results showed that the pilot’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .04 percent. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, effects of a BAC of .04 percent can include decreased attention, impaired judgment, and increased reaction time. The pilot later reported that he had consumed alcohol prior to the accident flight. The pilot also reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (aerobatics)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Alcohol › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: REI Redlands CA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: REI Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SBD, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR11LA458.