Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On April 26, 2003, at 1215 mountain daylight time, a Christen Industries, Pitts S-2B, N399DB, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted into a field 3 miles north of Longmont, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and a commercial pilot-rated passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The local flight originated at Boulder, Colorado, at 1000.

Several witnesses observed the airplane prior to the accident. One witness said the airplane had been doing aerobatics in the area - "loops and figure eights" The witness said as the airplane proceeded eastward, it got lower in altitude. The witness said, "He was about 500 feet over the field, he did a low loop and came back up the backside of the loop in what appeared to be an attempt at a hammerhead stall. The engine sputtered and quit and there wasn't room for a recovery."

Another witness said he was driving north and saw the airplane overhead. He said the airplane had just done a loop and was going up vertically. The witness said he lost sight of the airplane. When he saw the airplane again, it was coming down at nearly an 80-degree angle until it impacted into the field.

A third witness said he heard the sound of the airplane's engine change suddenly. He said he looked up to see the airplane low to the ground and heading straight down. He said, "The engine sound was as if the engine had quit."

A fourth witness said the airplane made several loud pops as it was heading towards the ground.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot-in-command (rear cockpit seat) held a private pilot certificate dated 05/24/2000, with single engine land, instrument ratings, and glider ratings.

According to his personal logbook, the pilot had 2,408.0 total flying hours and 105.2 total hours in the make and model airplane.

The pilot held a third class medical certificate dated 09/21/2001. The certificate showed the following limitation: Holder shall possess correcting glasses for near vision while exercising the privileges of his/her airman certificate.

The pilot-rated passenger in the front seat held a commercial pilot certificate dated 10/22/1999, with single and multiengine land, instrument, and helicopter/rotorcraft ratings.

Federal Aviation Administration aeromedical records showed the pilot reporting having approximately 3,000 total flying hours.

The pilot-rated passenger held a second class medical certificate dated 02/05/2003. The certificate showed no limitations.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane, a Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, serial number 5137, was a bi-winged, fabric-covered, canopy enclosed cockpit airplane, certified for aerobatic flight. The airplane, manufactured in 1988, was owned and operated by Connair, Incorporated, and used for pleasure. The airplane's most recent regist