Pitts Lost Its Prop At 7,500 Feet

Veteran aerobatic pilot Spencer Suderman made an emergency landing Saturday at Whiteman Field Airport (KWHT) in California when the prop departed the airplane while flying at 7,500 feet.

Suderman recounted the incident on his Facebook page. "On Saturday April 27th I was cruising at 7500' over the San Fernando Valley enroute to Yuma, AZ. At about 1:45pm PDT, approximately 2 miles Southwest of Whiteman airport the propeller departed the plane.

"I declared an emergency and landed at Whiteman Airport without further incident. If anyone finds my prop somewhere in the North end of the valley let me know."

Suderman included a link to a recording of his communication with ATC with the post. "I need to make an emergency landing Whiteman Airport," Suderman said.

• ATC: Pitts 781, VFR descent approved. Do you require any further assistance? Whiteman is 11 o'clock and a mile and a half.
• Suderman: If you can clear a path, I think my prop departed.

Suderman got current wind and weather information from the controller, and made a successful emergency landing. The exchange with ATC begins at about 46 minutes into the recording linked below.

(Image from Spencer Suderman Airshows Facebook page)

FMI: ATC recording
Spencer Suderman Airshows Facebook