NTSB Factual Report

On March 3, 2004, about 1515 eastern standard time, an Aviat Pitts S2B, N61PS, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, veered during a landing in Palm Beach County, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured and airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the same day, about 1500.

The pilot stated that an earlier flight had occurred, and that fuel had been ordered, but it was not delivered and placed in the airplane's fuel tanks. He further stated that the refueling error was not detected during the preflight inspection for the second flight. He said that they departed from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, flew to the practice area to perform aerobatics, and as he rolled the airplane inverted at the commencement of aerobatic maneuvers, the engine hesitated. He said that immediately he recognized that the airplane had not been refueled after the previous flight, estimating that he had departed with about 6 gallons of fuel, instead of the usual 23 gallons. At the time the engine hesitated, he stated that there was about 2 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks, and rather than fly over populated areas, he elected to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road close to the practice area. He said the approach and landing flare/touchdown were normal, but during the rollout the sawgrass struck the left wing and the airplane veered to the left, off the dirt road. It then nosed over and came to rest in a water-filled canal, incurring damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in an off-airport precautionary landing to preclude fuel exhaustion, which resulted in damage to the airplane during the landing.