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MIA94LA154

1994-05-26 · KEYSTONE HEIGHT, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N61PS

Make / Model
AVIAT INC PITTS S-2B
Year of manufacture
1991 · 3 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19911212
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A7EDBB

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRPLANE.

Factual narrative

On May 26, 1994, about 1330 eastern daylight time, N61PS, Pitts S2B, registered to the pilot David J. Swartz experienced a structural failure in flight near Keystone Heights, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 acrobatic flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Keystone Heights Airport about 45 minutes earlier. The pilot stated that while performing acrobatic maneuvers he heard a loud noise. After landing, the airplane was inspected and a structural longeron was found broken in two places. The pilot stated he had heard a similar noise about 3 weeks earlier. WHILE DOING ACROBATIC FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A NOISE AND LANDED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 2 FAILED LONGERONS. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD HEARD A SIMILAR NOISE ABOUT 3 WEEKS EARLIER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1994_MIA94LA154.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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