# Accident 20031010027929A: Aviat PITTSS2B, Cromwell, MN, October 10, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 10, 2003, 18:00 local time
- Place: Cromwell, MN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.6696° N, 92.8693° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6696&lon=-92.8693&mi=10
- Aircraft: N68PS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68PS-2018-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat PITTS S-2B (registry code 2210308, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-pitts-s-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 series (registry code 41568, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT PITTSS2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 6,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031010027929A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI04LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA007), Oct 10, 2003: Aviat Pitts S-2B (N68PS), Cromwell, MN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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