20031010027929A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Aviat PITTS S-2B · Cromwell, MN · October 10, 2003

Date: October 10, 2003 · 18:00 local
Place: Cromwell, MN
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N68PS
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04LA007
Reported as: Aviat PITTSS2B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,300 total

N68PSRegistration cancelled Jan 23, 2018 · Aviat PITTS S-2BS/N 5320 · Built 1995 Airframe modelAviat PITTS S-2B Engine modelLycoming AEIO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot performing low-level aerobatics over south island lake, Cromwell, MN without a waiver for 91.303. Aircraft observed by witnesses to impact water at the completion of spin maneuver. Aircraft then sunk in approximately 18 feet of murky water. Pilot sustained fatal injuries and body was recovered approximately 24 hours after the event. Physical inspection of the aircraft delayed as the aircraft remained on the bottom of lake awaiting reclamation for approximately one week. Aircraft was moved to hanger located on lakeville, MN airport and inspected on 10-28-2003. Aircraft records requested, obtained and reviewed on 11-04-2003. Pilot records requested but agent for estate unable to locate.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT PERFORMING LOW-LEVEL AEROBATICS OVER SOUTH ISLAND LAKE, CROMWELL, MN WITHOUT A WAIVER FOR 91.303. AIRCRAFT OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO IMPACT WATER AT THE COMPLETION OF SPIN MANEUVER. AIRCRAFT THEN SUNK IN APPROXIMATELY 18 FEET OF MURKY WATER. PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND BODY WAS RECOVERED APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS AFTER THE EVENT. PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DELAYED AS THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED ON THE BOTTOM OF LAKE AWAITING RECLAMATION FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO HANGER LOCATED ON LAKEVILLE, MN AIRPORT AND INSPECTED ON 10-28-2003. AIRCRAFT RECORDS REQUESTED, OBTAINED AND REVIEWED ON 11-04-2003. PILOT RECORDS REQUESTED BUT AGENT FOR ESTATE UNABLE TO LOCATE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI04LA007Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCromwell, MNThe altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot while performing aerobatic maneuvers. Contributing factors were the planning/decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude.Oct 10, 2003 · Destroyed