A pendulous capacitive accelerometer including a substrate having a substantially planar upper surface with an electrode section, and a sensing plate having a central anchor portion supported on the upper surface of the substrate to define a hinge axis. The sensing plate includes a solid proof mass on a first side of the central anchor portion and a substantially hollow proof mass on a second side of the central anchor portion, providing for reduced overall chip size and balanced gas damping. The solid proof mass has a first lower surface with a first electrode element thereon, and the substantially hollow proof mass has a second lower surface with a second electrode element thereon. Both the solid proof mass and the hollow proof mass have the same capacitive sensing area. The sensing plate rotates about the hinge axis relative to the upper surface of the substrate in response to an acceleration.