Aviat Pitts S-2B accident near Cromwell, MN
On October 10, 2003, an Aviat Pitts S-2B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cromwell, MN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 10, 2003
- Place
- Cromwell, MN
- Aircraft
- Aviat Pitts S-2B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.670°N, 92.869°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031015X01734
NTSB summary
On October 10, 2003, at 1805 central daylight time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N68PS, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted Island Lake, near Cromwell, Minnesota. Witnesses reported that the airplane was performing aerobatics prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Duluth International Airport, Duluth, Minnesota, at 1740. According to the Carlton County Sheriff's Department Report, a witness was walking when he saw the airplane flying over the lake. He said that the airplane was climbing and appeared to be stalled. It then turned into a sharp angle downward and went down toward the lake. He said that at one point he saw smoke coming from the airplane. A second witness stated that he was outside his residence when he saw the airplane fly over at 30 feet above the trees in an eastbound direction. He heard the engine, and it was very loud. It sounded as though it was at full throttle. The witness said that he saw smoke coming out of the airplane. A third witness, who was a friend of the pilot and knew his routine, said that he was watching the airplane prior to the accident and that it was at an altitude of about 1,500 feet. He said the airplane rolled into a spin and upon reaching one turn into the spin it turned smoke on. He said that what he saw was an intentional spin and that this was an actual aerobatic maneuver that the pilot has performed. He said that the pilot star
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.
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Browse: Minnesota · Aviat aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
