Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oakland, Mississippi 38948
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of aerobatic airplane departed an airport located about 16 miles from the accident site with approximately 18 gallons of fuel on board. He had completed several aerobatic maneuvers and was in a turn when the engine began to sputter and subsequently lost power. The airplane then descended at a 45-degree angle until it impacted trees, and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. Evidence of a fuel spill was present at the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal evidence of pre-impact malfunctions. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 750 total hours, and about 40 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed 8 months earlier.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power while maneuvering (after performing aerobatics) for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Oakland
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38948
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340503N
Event Location Longitude 0895304W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1135 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID UOX
Elevation of weather observation facility 452
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27385
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2010 11:18AM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N113DW
NTSB Number ERA09LA388
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC
Aircraft Model PITTS S-2B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5103
Certified Max Gross Weight 1550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 16 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 750
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph C Choate
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SOMERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38068-5713
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Joseph C Choate
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SOMERVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38068-5713
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PMU
Departure City Batesville
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NQA
Destination City Millington
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2010 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --