Accident Details
On July 19, 2008, at 1258 central daylight time, an Aerotek Pitts S-2A single-engine aerobatic airplane, registration N80053, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Cleveland Municipal Airport (6R3) in Cleveland, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Witness Observations
A witness reported that the airplane was departing on runway 16, which measures 4,998 feet long by 75 feet wide. Shortly after rotation, the airplane entered a barrel roll maneuver. It then veered off to the right, with the nose and right wing low, until it hit the west edge tree line. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area approximately 300 yards west of the runway centerline. Acquaintances noted that the pilot had previously been known to attempt aerobatic maneuvers shortly after takeoff.
Examination
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector revealed that the wreckage was located approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway length. Flight control continuity was established, and the propeller was destroyed. The wreckage was fragmented and came to rest facing the direction of departure, within a 25-foot diameter area.
Pilot Information
A review of the pilot's airman records showed that the 87-year-old private pilot had not held a current medical certificate since 2002. On his 2000 application for a medical certificate, the pilot reported a total of 1,010 flight hours, with 20 hours in the previous six months. The pilot's logbook was not recovered.
Toxicological Analysis
An autopsy was performed on July 20, 2008, by the Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Beaumont, Texas, and specimens were retained for toxicological analysis by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute's Forensic and Accident Research Center. The toxicological tests were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and all screened substances.