What happened
On June 20, 2025, at 0900 EDT, a Pitts S-2B, registration N79AV, was destroyed in an accident near Broadway, North Carolina. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for aerobatic purposes. The aircraft departed Raleigh Executive Jetport (TTA) in Sanford, North Carolina, at 0853.
Following departure, the aircraft performed a series of turns, including a left turn to the southwest and a subsequent left turn to the southeast. After climbing to approximately 4,100 ft MSL, the aircraft turned east. ADS-B data indicated that at 0859, the aircraft executed a tight, left 3-6-0° turn. Approximately one minute later, the aircraft entered a left turn and a steep descent. The final ADS-B data point recorded the aircraft at 650 ft MSL, roughly 50 ft east of the impact point.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft in a nose-down spin prior to impacting the terrain. Witnesses also noted that the engine remained running throughout the flight. Surveillance video captured the aircraft in a steep, nose-down attitude before impact, which was followed by a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in 2 fatal injuries, involving the private pilot and a passenger holding a commercial pilot rating.
The investigation
The initial impact occurred in a small crater between two buildings. The two-bladed, constant-speed propeller was located within this crater. Examination of the propeller showed one blade with aft bending deformation, chordwise scratches, and polishing on the cambered side, while the other blade showed chordwise scratches near the root.
The main wreckage was found 21 ft from the initial impact crater. While a post-impact fire consumed most of the airframe, the steel tubular structure and flight control components remained. The engine and airframe exhibited impact damage, primarily concentrated on the forward section of the aircraft. All major components of the aircraft were recovered at the site.